Israeli strike kills three civilians

Israeli combat aircraft reportedly killed three Palestinian civilians in a retaliatory attack.

Palestinian officials were quoted by Israeli media as saying that a 45 year old woman, her 20 year old daughter and a 55 year old man were killed in the attack Friday on the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army in a statement said the attacks targeted terrorists and were in retaliation for a missile attack on a school bus the day before that critically injured a teenage boy.

“IDF forces identified two terrorist squads from the Hamas terrorist organization in two incidents in the southern Gaza Strip,” said a statement from the Israel Defense Forces. “Armed forces as well as IAF aircraft fired at the squads, and identified hits. The IDF will not allow any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and will respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against the citizens of Israel.”

The attack came as terrorists in the Gaza Strip continued to barrage southern Israel with indiscriminate mortar fire.