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Israel targets Hamas in fresh strikes on Gaza Israel targets Hamas in fresh strikes on Gaza
(about 1 hour later)
Army says action was in retaliation for rockets fired towards Israel and comes amid tense standoffArmy says action was in retaliation for rockets fired towards Israel and comes amid tense standoff
Israel has carried out new strikes on Gaza after the army said rockets were fired towards Israel from the Palestinian enclave. Israel has carried out new strikes on Gaza after rockets were fired overnight from the Palestinian enclave, breaking a shaky truce agreed this week.
“Two rockets were fired from the Gaza strip towards Israeli territory” and were intercepted by air defences, the Israel defence forces (IDF) said. “Two rockets were fired from the Gaza strip towards Israeli territory,” the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in statement. Both were intercepted by it air defence system.
Unlike earlier operations, the IDF’s retaliation did not target the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, but Hamas, which has de facto control over Gaza. Unlike earlier operations, the IDF’s retaliation did not target the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, but Hamas, a military and political faction that rules Gaza. The Israeli military said its jets had bombed several sites run by the faction.
The new strikes into Gaza came two days after Israel and Islamic Jihad agreed to an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire, halting the worst bout of fighting in months. “The IDF holds the Hamas terror organization responsible for events transpiring in the Gaza Strip and emanating from it,” the IDF statement said. “Hamas will bear the consequences for actions against Israeli civilians.”
Palestinian security sources said the Israeli strikes were aimed at two Hamas sites in the north of the territory. The new strikes into Gaza came two days after Israel and Islamic Jihad agreed to an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire, halting the worst bout of fighting in months. Hamas, which months ago agreed to a long-term ceasefire with Israel, had largely attempting to stay out of the fighting.
On Tuesday, Israel carried out an operation that killed a top commander of Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip after Hamas. Hamas did not claim the overnight rocket launches, and it was not immediately clear who fired them. Several smaller militant groups also operate in Gaza. By mid-morning, no more projectiles had been fired from Gaza.
That strike triggered almost immediate retaliatory rocket fire from Islamic Jihad at Israel, setting off air-raid sirens and sending Israelis rushing to bomb shelters in the country’s southern and central regions. On Tuesday, Israel sparked the 48-hour firefight when it bombed the home of a top commander of Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful Palestinian militant group in the Gaza Strip after Hamas. Israel’s army had accused Baha Abu al-Ata of multiple recent attacks, calling him a “ticking bomb”.
Israel’s military said around 450 rockets were fired at its territory in the fighting and air defences had intercepted dozens of them in fireballs high in the sky. That strike, which also killed Abu al-Ata’s wife, triggered almost immediate retaliatory rocket fire from Islamic Jihad at Israel, setting off air-raid sirens and sending Israelis rushing to bomb shelters.
It then responded with its own air strikes, saying it targeted more Islamic Jihad militant sites and rocket and missile-launching squads. Israel then responded with its own air strikes, saying it had targeted Islamic Jihad militant sites and rocket and missile-launching squads.
After two days of violence, Gaza medical officials put the death toll from the two days of fighting at 34 Palestinians, almost half of them civilians. There were no Israeli casualties. A ceasefire was agreed that was put in place on Thursday morning. After two days of violence, Gaza medical officials put the death toll from the two days of fighting at 34 Palestinians, almost half of them civilians. One strike that flattened a house, killed eight members of a Palestinian family, including five children.
But the ceasefire has so far been precarious, with Israel launching fresh air strikes on Gaza and rocket fire coming from the enclave after it went into effect. Israel said around 450 rockets had been fired at its territory, although air defences had intercepted dozens of them in the sky. There were no Israeli fatalities.
A ceasefire was agreed that was put in place on Thursday morning.
But the truce has so far been precarious, with sporadic rocket fire continuing to be fired from the enclave and Israel launching fresh air strikes on Gaza.