IDF commander: We will deal with those that fired mortars

Armed wing of Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for attack on Kibbutz Sha'ar Hanegev in which 3 foreign workers were injured, 1 seriously: We will take path of Jihad until all our lands are freed.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST.COM STAFF
mortar shell launch 298 ap (photo credit: AP [file])
mortar shell launch 298 ap
(photo credit: AP [file])
The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the al-Quds Brigades, took responsibility for mortar fire that injured three agricultural workers on Saturday.
In a statement on its website, the group said that "it is the resistance's right to act against any Zionist aggression against our people." It continued, "We will take the path of resistance and jihad until all our lands are freed," Channel 10 reported.
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OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Tal Russo Saturday evening visited the kibbutz struck by the mortar shells that injured the agricultural workers earlier in the day.
Russo, speaking at Kibbutz Sha'ar Hanegev, said that the IDF is currently dealing with the event on an operational level. "We will deal with those who fired the mortars and those who sent them," he clarified.
Four mortar shells fired by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza landed in the kibbutz, injuring three foreign agricultural workers on Saturday - one of them seriously.
One shell struck a building housing the workers, who were employed by the kibbutz. One man is in serious condition and has been taken for surgery with shrapnel wounds to his chest.
Two others were moderately and lightly injured by shrapnel, the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, which treated the injured, said.
A number of people suffered shock as a result of the attack and were treated on the scene by paramedics.
Police in the Negev said a total of four mortar shells with a diameter of 181 millimeters were fired at the western Negev on Saturday afternoon.
Towards the evening, an additional mortar shell fired from Gaza landed in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council. No injuries or damages were reported.
On Friday, one IDF soldier was killed and four injured, apparently from friendly fire, when their patrol was ambushed by terrorists along the central Gaza border fence. A number of mortars were also fired into Israel by Palestinians throughout the day.
On Thursday, two Palestinians were shot and killed by the IDF while attempting to penetrate the border fence and enter Israeli territory.
The same day, The IAF carried out two air strikes in the Gaza Strip. The IDF spokesman said that a terror base in the northern Strip and a smuggling tunnel in southern Gaza were struck.
Associated Press contributed to this report.