Hamas propaganda, translated by Palestinian Media Watch ( PMW ), alleges that the IDF kills hostages captured by the terrroist organization. The IDF recently bombed Hamas tunnels designed for kidnapping, but the aerial strikes came only as part of retaliation against mortar, rocket and shooting attacks on Israeli civllians and soldiers. Email readers, please click here to view the video! The IDF is likely to strike again following a resumption of terrorist attacks Thursday morning, when a mortar shell struck the Eshkol region and sniper fire was aimed at soliders patrolling near the Gaza separation fence. No one was injured. Israel has sustained approximately 12,000 mortar and rocket attacks since September 2000, when the Second Intifada, also known as the Oslo War, broke out. More than 250 attacks were recorded since the end of the three-week Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign in mid-January. The IDF has not yet retaliated. The government policy the past several months has been to respond, usually within 24 hours, to all attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. Retaliation often takes the form of bombing smuggling tunnels. Earlier in the week, three tunnels were bombed after terrorists fired two Kassam rockets at the Negev.
