Israel Strikes In Gaza After Fire Balloons Launched

(CNN)The Israeli military struck targets in Gaza overnight
Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement,
citing incendiary balloons launched from Gaza earlier in the day.
According to reports in Israeli media, incendiary balloons launched
from Gaza sparked multiple fires in southern Israel.

WAFA, the official Palestinian News Agency also reported the
airstrikes in Khan Younis and said “material” damage occurred. The
news agency also reported on another site south of Gaza City being
targeted and said there were no casualties from both incidents.

The airstrikes are the first in Gaza since a ceasefire went into
effect nearly one month ago. The IDF said it struck Hamas military
complexes and meeting places for the Khan Younis and Gaza
brigades.

The helium-filled balloons, which were affixed with incendiary
devices, were floated into Israel on Wednesday. The IDF says the
balloons were launched as a protest to the provocative flag march
in Jerusalem, where thousands of Israelis marched through the Old
City. Far-right Jewish extremists taking part in the parade chanted
“Death to Arabs” and “This is our home.” Israeli police in riot
gear blocked surrounding streets, forcibly removing Palestinian
protesters from the route.

Masked Palestinian supporters of the Islamic Jihad movement
prepare incendiary balloons east of Gaza city, to launch across the
border fence towards Israel on June 15.

Thirty-three Palestinian protesters were injured, including by
stun grenade, rubber bullets and live fire, with six evacuated to
hospital, following clashes with Israeli security forces around
east Jerusalem, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said.

The march was seen as the first major test for Israel’s new
government, led by right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. In
the past, Bennett had pushed former Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu to take a tougher stance against Hamas and the launching
of incendiary balloons according to Israeli media.

After the Israeli airstrikes, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem
said on Twitter, “The Zionist bombing of the Gaza Strip is a failed
attempt to stop our people’s solidarity and resistance with the
Holy City, and to cover up the unprecedented state of confusion for
the Zionist establishment in organizing the so-called ‘flag-march.’
”

Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza did not immediately
respond with rocket fire into Israel, but the situation along the
Israel-Gaza border remains extremely tense, and the possibility of
an imminent and serious escalation cannot be ruled out.

Eleven days of war
Wednesday’s airstrikes come a month after the worst violence in
years between Israel and Hamas.

Over 11 days from May 10, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
carried out a devastating aerial bombardment of Gaza, while the
Palestinian militant group Hamas fired thousands of rockets into
Israel.

Israeli strikes during the recent conflict killed at least 248
Palestinians, including 66 children, according to Hamas health
officials. At least 12 people in Israel, including two children,
were killed by Palestinian
militant fire from Gaza, according to Israel’s military and the
emergency service.

A ceasefire was agreed on May 21 and followed a whirlwind of
diplomatic attempts to push for an end to the hostilities.

Explosions light up the night sky as the Israeli military
strikes Khan Younis in southern Gaza, early on June 16.

The recent fighting between Israel and Hamas erupted after weeks
of tension in Jerusalem, where a group of Palestinian families
faced eviction from their homes in East Jerusalem in favor of
Jewish nationalists.

In addition, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, there were
a series of incidents which Palestinians saw as highly provocative,
including the closing of a popular meeting place near the Old City,
and the entrance of Israeli police into the Al Aqsa mosque on a
number of occasions. There were regular clashes in and around the
mosque compound during which police fired stun grenades and rubber
coated bullets while Palestinians threw stones.

Hundreds of Palestinians and some Israeli police officers were
injured in the unrest.

(CNN)The Israeli military struck targets in Gaza overnight
Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement,
citing incendiary balloons launched from Gaza earlier in the day.
According to reports in Israeli media, incendiary balloons launched
from Gaza sparked multiple fires in southern Israel.

WAFA, the official Palestinian News Agency also reported the
airstrikes in Khan Younis and said “material” damage occurred. The
news agency also reported on another site south of Gaza City being
targeted and said there were no casualties from both incidents.

The airstrikes are the first in Gaza since a ceasefire went into
effect nearly one month ago. The IDF said it struck Hamas military
complexes and meeting places for the Khan Younis and Gaza
brigades.

The helium-filled balloons, which were affixed with incendiary
devices, were floated into Israel on Wednesday. The IDF says the
balloons were launched as a protest to the provocative flag march
in Jerusalem, where thousands of Israelis marched through the Old
City. Far-right Jewish extremists taking part in the parade chanted
“Death to Arabs” and “This is our home.” Israeli police in riot
gear blocked surrounding streets, forcibly removing Palestinian
protesters from the route.

Masked Palestinian supporters of the Islamic Jihad movement
prepare incendiary balloons east of Gaza city, to launch across the
border fence towards Israel on June 15.

Thirty-three Palestinian protesters were injured, including by
stun grenade, rubber bullets and live fire, with six evacuated to
hospital, following clashes with Israeli security forces around
east Jerusalem, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said.

The march was seen as the first major test for Israel’s new
government, led by right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. In
the past, Bennett had pushed former Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu to take a tougher stance against Hamas and the launching
of incendiary balloons according to Israeli media.

After the Israeli airstrikes, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem
said on Twitter, “The Zionist bombing of the Gaza Strip is a failed
attempt to stop our people’s solidarity and resistance with the
Holy City, and to cover up the unprecedented state of confusion for
the Zionist establishment in organizing the so-called ‘flag-march.’
”

Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza did not immediately
respond with rocket fire into Israel, but the situation along the
Israel-Gaza border remains extremely tense, and the possibility of
an imminent and serious escalation cannot be ruled out.

Eleven days of war
Wednesday’s airstrikes come a month after the worst violence in
years between Israel and Hamas.

Over 11 days from May 10, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
carried out a devastating aerial bombardment of Gaza, while the
Palestinian militant group Hamas fired thousands of rockets into
Israel.

Israeli strikes during the recent conflict killed at least 248
Palestinians, including 66 children, according to Hamas health
officials. At least 12 people in Israel, including two children,
were killed by Palestinian
militant fire from Gaza, according to Israel’s military and the
emergency service.

A ceasefire was agreed on May 21 and followed a whirlwind of
diplomatic attempts to push for an end to the hostilities.

Explosions light up the night sky as the Israeli military
strikes Khan Younis in southern Gaza, early on June 16.

The recent fighting between Israel and Hamas erupted after weeks
of tension in Jerusalem, where a group of Palestinian families
faced eviction from their homes in East Jerusalem in favor of
Jewish nationalists.

In addition, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, there were
a series of incidents which Palestinians saw as highly provocative,
including the closing of a popular meeting place near the Old City,
and the entrance of Israeli police into the Al Aqsa mosque on a
number of occasions. There were regular clashes in and around the
mosque compound during which police fired stun grenades and rubber
coated bullets while Palestinians threw stones.

Hundreds of Palestinians and some Israeli police officers were
injured in the unrest.