In a statement faxed to Albawaba.com on Friday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement claimed responsibility for a mortar attack on an Israeli settlement inside the Green Line to the east of Gaza Strip.
The statement said that the military wing of the movement, Jerusalem Brigades, attacked on Friday morning, at (7:28) local time, the settlement of Nhal Oz, inflicting damage and forcing residents to flee to shelters.
Jihad said that the operation came in retaliation of the Israeli assassination of its leaders.
Israel on Thursday assassinated Iyad Hardan, 30, a military leader of the Islamic Jihad movement.
The murder was carried out when a booby-trapped public phone booth was detonated via remote control while Hardan was using it.
Earlier this week, Israeli helicopters down rained three rockets on a car driven by Mohammad Abdul Al, another top Jihad leader, burning him to a crisp.
In the same context, Israeli forces tried Thursday morning to liquidate members of a Palestinian delegation taking part in security talks with Israeli officials, according to the Palestinian side.
The US department of state spokesman, Richard Boucher, described the incident as “dangerous,” according to reports – Albawaba.com
