Hamas Promises Retaliation Following Israeli Airstrikes That Resulted in Death of 9 Militants in Gaza

By Vasudevan Sridharan – The Islamic militant group Hamas has issued a warning of retaliation following Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of nine insurgents in the Gaza Strip.

The group stated that Israel would face consequences for the attack, with Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri declaring, "This is a grave escalation and the enemy will pay the price."

According to reports, six of Hamas’s fighters were killed in a single airstrike near Rafah in the southern region of Gaza, while three others were killed in separate attacks carried out by Israel as a response to rocket and mortar fire launched towards Israel.

Israel has commenced airstrikes targeting locations in Gaza in retaliation for nearly two dozen rockets that were fired into Israeli territory on Sunday, leading to injuries among their soldiers.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner emphasized, "At least 25 times today, Gaza militants placed Israeli lives directly at risk through their rocket attacks. This reality is unbearable and unacceptable. We will continue to act to degrade and incapacitate the Hamas terror infrastructure by targeting their warehouses, rocket manufacturing capabilities, and those who threaten the safety of Israelis in the southern part of the country."

The region’s tension remains high following the murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammed Abu Khdair in East Jerusalem, an event viewed by many as retaliation for the deaths of three Israeli teenagers. Israeli authorities have arrested six Jewish suspects in connection with the abduction and murder of the Arab teenager.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to handle the situation "calmly and responsibly," while also promising to hold accountable those responsible for the killings of the teenagers. Despite Netanyahu’s calls for restraint, right-wing government officials continue to advocate for more aggressive actions against Hamas.