'We will hunt and lay our hands on anyone who threatens us'

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon says Israel will not tolerate even a drizzle of rocket fire from Gaza after Israel kills terrorist involved in multiple rocket attacks • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: This is the true face of Hamas.

The Associated Press and Israel Hayom Staff

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon | Photo credit: Yehoshua Yosef

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"We will hunt down and lay our hands on anyone who threatens us," Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Thursday, a day after an Israeli Air Force strike killed a Gaza terrorist in the first deadly violence between Israel and the Palestinians since the establishment of a Palestinian unity government last week.

The late-night airstrike came hours after Palestinian terrorists fired a rocket into southern Israel, the first such attack since Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas formed the new government and took charge, at least formally, of Gaza. Israel has warned it would hold the Western-backed Abbas responsible for any attacks out of the territory, even though the rival Hamas militant group maintains de facto control.

"Last night the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Ben security agency killed a terrorist in the Gaza Strip who was involved in rocket fire into Israel, and was planning future rocket and terror attacks," Ya'alon said. "We will not overlook even a drizzle of rocket fire or attempted terror attacks meant to disrupt the daily lives of the residents of the south and target our forces."

"We will know how to take action, anywhere and anytime, to pre-empt the intentions of terror organizations in the Gaza Strip to target the lives of Israeli citizens, just like we did last night," he added.

Meanwhile, witnesses of the airstrike Wednesday night said it had targeted a man on a motorcycle and also struck a nearby car. Palestinian medical officials said three people had been wounded, two of them critically. They did not immediately identify the casualties.

But in a statement, the Israeli military identified the target as 33-year-old Mohammad Awwar, linked to "global jihad," a term it uses to describe groups that are affiliated with or inspired by al-Qaida. It said the man had participated in many rocket attacks while also working as a Hamas policeman, and described the airstrike as pre-emptive. The Shin Bet security agency stated that Awwar had also planned to shoot down an Israeli helicopter.

"Our policy is clear. Kill those who rise up to kill us," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. "The IDF and Shin Bet conducted a precise operation and will continue to act with force against all those threatening the security of Israeli citizens. ... This is the true face of Hamas -- it continues to plan terror attacks against Israeli citizens while being part of the Palestinian government," he said.

Netanyahu said he wanted to "remind" the international community that Abbas had pledged the new government would uphold previous agreements with Israel. "This means that he is responsible for dismantling Hamas and other terror groups" in Gaza, he said.

Earlier, Abbas' office condemned the rocket fire and urged Gaza militants to abide by previous cease-fire deals. Israel dismissed the condemnation as "empty rhetoric."

The threat of violence is one of the many challenges Abbas is dealing with as he tries to unite two territories after a seven-year rift. Hamas seized control of Gaza from Abbas' forces in June 2007.

Under last week's deal, Abbas' new 17-member cabinet is to administer both Gaza and parts of the West Bank. Hamas has no formal role in the technocrat government, but it backs the unity government and remains the de facto power in Gaza with thousands of armed fighters.

The U.S. and European Union have so far been willing to give Abbas a chance. The U.S. welcomed Abbas' condemnation and suggested it was not ready to hold the new unity government responsible for the attack.

"We expect the Palestinian Authority will do everything in its power to prevent attacks from Gaza into Israel, but we acknowledge the reality that Hamas currently controls Gaza," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Terrorists in Gaza, including members of Hamas, have fired thousands of rockets at Israel over the years, though Hamas mostly observed an informal truce in recent years. The West considers Hamas a terrorist group because of scores of deadly attacks on Israel, though Abbas has said the new cabinet will follow his pragmatic program.

The unity government was meant to end a crippling split between Abbas and Hamas, but the road to reconciliation has been bumpy, with many issues unresolved.

Salary payments for more than 40,000 government employees hired by Hamas during the past seven years are a key point of contention. Hamas wants them to be paid by the unity government, though donor countries would likely balk at the idea of seeing aid go for salaries for members of the Hamas security forces.

Hamas kept Gaza's banks closed for the past week in an attempt to pressure Abbas to find a solution, but allowed the banks to reopen Wednesday amid rising public anger against the group. Long lines formed at cash machines as people rushed to withdraw their salaries.

Tens of thousands of Abbas loyalists who worked for his Palestinian Authority in Gaza before the Hamas takeover have continued to receive salaries since 2007 on condition they not work for the Hamas administration.

Hamas officials said no solution to the problem has been found and suggested the opening of the banks is temporary.