Aircraft belonging to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out an airstrike in Gaza on Wednesday night.

According to reports, the airstrike targeted a terrorist. Palestinian Authority-based media said that one person was killed and two were wounded in the airstrike.

The IDF confirmed the airstrike, saying in a statement it was an operation held in cooperation with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and that it targeted terrorist Mohammed Awar.

Awar had been involved in rocket attacks on Israel and had also served as member of the Hamas police force in Gaza, said the IDF.

The terrorist group of which he was a member carried out rocket attacks on communities surrounding Gaza and on Sderot on April 21, the statement said. The group was also plotting other terrorist attacks, including a plan to down an Israeli helicopter.

“The IDF sees firing of rockets at Israeli territory as very serious and will continue to act strongly against any attempt to carry out terrorist activities,” said the statement, adding, “The IDF is prepared to defend the citizens of Israel.”

The airstrike came hours after a Kassam rocket fired by terrorists in Gaza exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council area.

No physical injuries or damage were reported as a result of the attack. The rocket fell right near a central highway by one of the communities in the region.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas later condemned the rocket fire from Gaza – not because of the threat to human or Israeli lives, but because of the threat to the Hamas-Fatah unity pact and Palestinian Arab security.

“The Palestinian factions intend to do all they can to keep the unity agreement that was signed in Egypt and in the understandings included in this agreement,” Abbas stated. “This concerns the interests and security of the Palestinian people, and we cannot give Israel an excuse to continue the attack on Gaza.”