Identical Iranian-made munitions were used in Friday's rocket attack from the Gaza Strip and in the Nov. 30 attack by Islamic Jihad on an IDF outpost near the border in northern Gaza, the IDF concluded on Wednesday, after investigating Friday's attack.
The timing of last week's attack – during an event marking the birthday of IDF Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul, who was killed in action in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 – has also led the defense establishment to believe it was most likely carried out by Islamic Jihad.
The IDF did not rule out the possibility that Islamic Jihad was retaliating for its demolition of its underground terror tunnel in October, in which seven terrorists were killed.
Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, appears to be unable to control the terrorist organization, which is risking a direct IDF response against it. Until now, the IDF has maintained a policy of holding Hamas responsible for any hostile acts originating in Gaza.
