Israel launches air strikes on Gaza in the first major flare-up since ceasefire ended 11 days of fighting

The Israeli military confirmed its aircraft attacked Hamas armed compounds in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in response to the launching of incendiary ballons from the territory that caused fires in fields in southern Israel.

In a statement, the military said that it was “ready for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza”.

The attacks, following an Israeli nationalist march in East Jerusalem that angered Palestinians, were the first launched by Israel and Gaza militants since an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire ended 11 days of cross-border fighting last month.

Hamas had threatened to take action in response to an Israeli nationalist march on Tuesday through East Jerusalem.

Israel’s new prime minister, Naftali Bennett, had said in the past that the Israeli government should not tolerate incendiary balloons, and must retaliate as if Hamas had fired rockets into Israel.

At least 260 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel were killed during the fighting last month, according to Gaza authorities and Israeli law enforcement respectively.

More to come.

Source: sbs