Courtesy-BBC
Since the end of 11 days of cross-border conflicts last month, Israel mounted airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in response to incendiary balloons launched from the Palestinian territory.
Hamas armed compounds in Gaza city along with the southern town of Khan Younis were attacked by the Israeli aircraft and was ready for all scenarios including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza, as said by the Israeli military. The Israeli fire brigade reported the launching of balloons which caused 20 blazes in open fields in communities near the Gaza border and to the response, the strikes came in as mentioned by the military.
The Israeli attacks were confirmed by a Hamas spokesperson and said that brave resistance and defending of their rights and sacred sites shall be continued to be pursued by the Palestinians. Before heading to Judaism’s holy western wall, thousands of flag-waving Israelis congregated around the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem’s Old City thereby drawing Palestinian anger and condemnation.
In the war of 1967, East Jerusalem was occupied and later annexed in a move by Israel that has not won international recognition, regarding the entire city as its capital. A future state that would include the West Bank and Gaza shall have East Jerusalem as its capital as desired by the Palestinians.
The deployment of the Iron Dome anti-missile system in anticipation of possible rocket attacks from Gaza was beefed up by Israel before Tuesday’s March. After night of attack in Jerusalem when the marchers began to disperse, there was no sign of rocket fire from the enclave.
The attack occurred for the first time after the new government was formed in Israel.