Israel's defense chief warns Hamas of "heavy prices" for rocket attack

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Wednesday urged Hamas, an Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip, to restrain from any attempt to fire rockets at Israel, following a rocket attack on the south the night before.

"If there won't be quiet in Israel, Gaza will pay a very heavy price," Ya'alon warned.

The Defense Minister also blamed the Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant organization from Gaza, for Tuesday night's rocket attack.

Israeli Air Force struck four targets in the Gaza Strip in response to the rocket overnight, Ya'alon said the air strikes targeted Islamic Jihad and Hamas bases in the Gaza Strip.

Peter Lerner, the IDF spokesman, said the strikes are a direct response to Hamas.

"The reality that Hamas' territory is used as a staging ground to attack Israel is unacceptable and intolerable and will bear consequences. Israelis cannot be expected to live in the perpetual fear of rocket attacks; the IDF will continue to operate in order to seek out those that wish to undermine Israeli sovereignty with acts of terrorism." Lerner said in a statement.

Medical sources in Gaza said that no injuries were reported after the strike, but slight damages were caused to nearby houses.

It was the first intensive Israeli air strikes on the Strip since the end of Israel's 50-day large-scale military air and ground operation against Gaza last summer, leaving more than 2,145 Palestinians killed.

On Tuesday night, a rocket fired from Gaza landed in Gan Yavne, some 56 km west of Jerusalem, causing no injuries or damages. Endit