The IAF strikes an Islamist terrorist squad in Gaza preparing to launch missile at Israeli civilians.

The IAF released footage showing a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft wiping out a squad of Gaza islamist terrorists as it was about to launch a rocket at Israeli civilians.

The strike took place Thursday morning.

IDF sources described the airstrike, noting that it had "intercepted terrorists during their final preparations to launch rockets towards Israel".

From the Gaza side, Hamas-run health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP that "two Palestinians were hit and injured by an Israeli drone while they were riding on a motorbike east of Khan Yunis."

The newly released IDF video appears to disprove the Hamas statement, as the terrorists can clearly be seen preparing the attack rather than enjoying a motorbike excursion.

The IAF carried out a second strike against a terrorist target in southern Gaza early Thursday afternoon. Accurate hits were reported.

Tensions in the region have been high as two rocket attacks hit Israel from Gaza in quick succession during late December, triggering IAF response strikes. Around the same time, the IDF deployed Iron Dome defense systems into the southern region.

Meanwhile, just last Thursday Gaza terrorists test fired new long-range M-175 capable of reaching beyond Tel Aviv, thereby threatening the major Israeli population centers.