JERUSALEM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- In the wake of a lethal Qassam rocket attack on southern Israeli town of Sderot on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz vowed to continue Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip "in accordance with Israel's policy and security interests."

    Peretz made the remarks at an emergency meeting attended by top defense officials, including Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, following a Qassam rocket strike in southern town of Sderot on Wednesday morning that killed a woman and seriously injured one of Peretz' bodyguards.

    Peretz said during the meeting that he viewed the matter with great severity and the war on terror would be continuous and would correspond with Israel's security interests and policies.

    Earlier in the day, Peretz said that the strike would not go unpunished.

    "Israel will act against anyone involved in the rocket fire, from the terrorist leaders to the last activist," he said, warning" the terrorist organizations will pay a heavy price." Islamic Jihad and militants from the ruling Palestinian movement Hamas both claimed responsibility for the attack. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the Palestinians acted in self-defense.

    The militant groups said the rockets fire was meant to avenge the deaths of 18 civilians killed last week in IDF shelling of an apartment compound in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.