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Israel strikes in Gaza after fire balloons launched Israel strikes in Gaza after fire balloons launched
(about 3 hours later)
An explosion lights up Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza StripAn explosion lights up Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip
Israel says it has carried out air strikes against Hamas militant targets in Gaza, in retaliation for incendiary balloons launched from the territory. Israel says it carried out air strikes in Gaza overnight after Palestinians launched incendiary balloons from the territory, in the first major flare-up since an 11-day conflict last month.
Explosions were heard in Gaza City in the early hours of Wednesday. The Israeli military said it targeted compounds belonging to Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza.
Several balloons were sent from Gaza into Israel earlier on Tuesday causing multiple fires, according to the Israeli fire service. The incendiary balloons sparked 20 fires in southern Israel on Tuesday.
It is the first major flare-up since 11 days of fighting between the two sides ended in a ceasefire on 21 May. Hamas said they were a response to a march by Israeli nationalists in occupied East Jerusalem.
It followed a march by Jewish nationalists in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, which had drawn threats from Hamas, the militant group that runs Gaza. There were no casualties on either side and calm had been restored by Wednesday morning.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
The dilemma of rebuilding Gaza without rearming HamasThe dilemma of rebuilding Gaza without rearming Hamas
What do we know about the attacks? A conflict on pause as both sides claim victory
The Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
What do we know about the strikes?
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets had hit military compounds operated by Hamas in Khan Younis and Gaza City.In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets had hit military compounds operated by Hamas in Khan Younis and Gaza City.
The Israeli air strikes were the first since a ceasefire ended a conflict with Hamas on 21 May
It said "terrorist activity" took place in the compounds, and that the IDF was "prepared for all scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities, in the face of continued terror acts from the Gaza Strip".It said "terrorist activity" took place in the compounds, and that the IDF was "prepared for all scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities, in the face of continued terror acts from the Gaza Strip".
It is not immediately clear if the air strikes have caused any injuries. A Hamas spokesman said on Twitter that Palestinians would continue to pursue their "brave resistance and defend their rights and sacred sites" in Jerusalem.
Incendiary balloons are commonly used by militants (image from 15 June) The IDF said the strikes were carried out in response to the "arson balloons launched from Gaza into Israel" on Tuesday.
A Hamas spokesman said in a statement on Twitter that Palestinians would continue to pursue their "brave resistance and defend their rights and sacred sites" in Jerusalem. Incendiary balloons sparked fires in fields in southern Israeli communities on Tuesday
Israel's fire service said the incendiary balloons launched earlier from Gaza had caused at least 20 fires in fields by communities in southern Israel. In recent years, militants have frequently sent balloons and kites carrying containers of burning fuel and explosive devices over the Gaza border.
This is the first violent exchange since Israeli's new coalition government came to power on Sunday, headed by Naftali Bennett and drawing an end to Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year run as prime minister. The devices have caused hundreds of fires in Israel, burning thousands of hectares of forest and farmland.
Palestinian militants launched the balloons near Gaza's border with Israel
The air strikes were the first carried out under Israel's new government, which took office on Sunday, ending Benjamin Netanyahu's 12 years in power.
Naftali Bennett, the new prime minister, is a right-wing nationalist who heads a coalition of eight parties spanning the entire spectrum of Israeli politics.
A reminder of a fragile ceasefireA reminder of a fragile ceasefire
Rushdi Abu Alouf, BBC News, Gaza City by Rushdi Abu Alouf, BBC News, Gaza City
The recent air raids lasted for only 10 minutes, but they were enough to remind the city's residents, who are trying to recover from the aftermath of the recent fighting, that the ceasefire is fragile.The recent air raids lasted for only 10 minutes, but they were enough to remind the city's residents, who are trying to recover from the aftermath of the recent fighting, that the ceasefire is fragile.
It is not only the sounds of explosions that remind people of the war here. You only have to drive your car or walk in the city's streets to witness the scale of destruction that has befallen the city. Tons of rubble still block the main streets in the heart of Gaza. It is not only the sounds of explosions that remind people of the war here. You only have to drive your car or walk the streets to witness the scale of destruction that has befallen the city. Tons of rubble still block the main roads in the heart of Gaza.
A local street vendor, Abu Muhammad, sells nuts on a small cart in the Rimal neighbourhood, which was subjected to the largest strikes in the previous round of violence. He told me: "We can no longer tolerate more wars, the coronavirus pandemic stopped our work for many months, and the last war caused a great loss, I could no longer feed my six children."A local street vendor, Abu Muhammad, sells nuts on a small cart in the Rimal neighbourhood, which was subjected to the largest strikes in the previous round of violence. He told me: "We can no longer tolerate more wars, the coronavirus pandemic stopped our work for many months, and the last war caused a great loss, I could no longer feed my six children."
A neighbour, who lives near a Hamas military site that was hit in the latest strikes, told me by phone it was scary watching new plumes of smoke rising.A neighbour, who lives near a Hamas military site that was hit in the latest strikes, told me by phone it was scary watching new plumes of smoke rising.
What happened at the Jerusalem march?What happened at the Jerusalem march?
More than 30 Palestinian protesters were injured and 17 people arrested on Tuesday as Israeli police cleared areas of East Jerusalem for the march, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets. The Jerusalem Day flag march is an annual event that marks Israel's capture of East Jerusalem - home to the Old City and its holy sites - in the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians see it as a provocation.
Video on social media shows some Israeli demonstrators chanting "death to the Arabs" at local Palestinians. At Tuesday's event, hundreds of mostly young, nationalist Israelis danced, sang and waved Israeli flags in front of the Old City's Damascus Gate, the main entrance to the Muslim Quarter.
The Jerusalem Day flag march is an annual event that marks Israel's capture of East Jerusalem - home to the Old City and its holy sites - in the 1967 Middle East War. They later entered through another gate to reach the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites.
The year's event had been due to take place on 10 May, but it was interrupted by Hamas militants in Gaza firing rockets towards Jerusalem. The marchers agreed not to enter the Old City through the Damascus Gate
The march was then rescheduled for last Thursday, but organisers cancelled it after Israeli police rejected the proposed route, citing security concerns. Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid criticised a group of marchers that were filmed chanting racist slogans.
An amended route was later approved by Israel's new government, but Foreign Minister Yair Lapid criticised the Israeli participants who sang racist and violent songs. "The fact that there are extremists for whom the Israeli flag represents hate and racism is abominable and intolerable," said Mr Lapid. "It is incomprehensible how one can hold an Israeli flag in one's hand and shout 'Death to Arabs' at the same time."
"The fact that there are extremists for whom the Israeli flag represents hate and racism is abominable and intolerable," said Mr Lapid. "It is incomprehensible how one can hold an Israeli flag in one's hand and shout 'death to Arabs' at the same time." More than 30 Palestinian protesters were injured and 17 people arrested as Israeli police cleared areas of East Jerusalem ahead of the march, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets.
What has caused recent tensions? Originally, the flag march was supposed to take place on 10 May. But it was interrupted by Hamas militants in Gaza firing rockets towards the holy city, which led to the 11-day conflict.
Last month's conflict began after weeks of spiralling Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Palestinians protested against the march, which they said was a provocation
As soon as a ceasefire took hold, the organisers asked for the march to be rescheduled.
It was due to take place last Thursday, but it was cancelled by the organisers after Israeli police rejected the proposed route, citing security concerns.
An amended route that avoided passing through the Damascus Gate was later approved by the new Israeli government, though the leader of the Arab Islamist Raam party in the coalition said it should have been called off.
The Palestinian Authority's prime minister warned that there could be "dangerous repercussions".
Why was there a conflict in Gaza last month?
The conflict began after weeks of spiralling Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews.
Hamas began firing rockets into Israel after warning it to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes from Israel on Gaza targets.Hamas began firing rockets into Israel after warning it to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes from Israel on Gaza targets.
At least 256 people were killed in Gaza, according to the UN, and 13 people were killed in Israel before a ceasefire brokered by Egypt took effect. Two children from Gaza City and Israel describe their experience of the Israel-Gaza conflict
At least 256 people were killed in Gaza, according to the UN, and 13 people were killed in Israel before an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire took effect on 21 May.
The UN said at least 128 of those killed in Gaza were civilians. Israel's military said 200 were militants; Hamas's leader in Gaza put the number of fighters killed at 80.The UN said at least 128 of those killed in Gaza were civilians. Israel's military said 200 were militants; Hamas's leader in Gaza put the number of fighters killed at 80.
More than 16,000 homes in Gaza were destroyed or damaged in the conflict, along with 58 schools and training centres, nine hospitals, 19 clinics and vital infrastructure, according to the UN.