Palestinian militants fired 12 rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip on Thursday night, nine of which were intercepted, and Israel responded with three air strikes against Hamas targets, Israeli military officials said today.
This was the most serious clash along the Gaza Strip border in months and there were no reports of casualties.
Israeli police said buildings and vehicles in Israel were damaged and that special bomb disposal groups were sent to collect shrapnel and parts of the rockets.
In recent weeks, groups linked to Hamas – which controls the government in the Gaza Strip – have launched incendiary balloons over Israel, burning agricultural land.
This offensive is an attempt to pressure Israel to ease the blockade imposed on Gaza since the Islamic group Hamas took power in 2007.
The launch of rockets over Israel marked a significant escalation in the conflict.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and several minor clashes in the past 13 years. Neither side is believed to be looking for open war, but any casualties could start a broader conflict.
In recent days, Israeli authorities have closed the only commercial crossing from Gaza to Israeli territory, causing the only power station in the territory to shut down due to a lack of fuel, limiting the two million inhabitants of the territory to about four hours of electricity per hour. day.
Israel has also banned fishing in Gaza’s coastal waters, measures they say are in response to incendiary balloons.
Egyptian mediators were in Gaza earlier this week to try to negotiate an informal truce, but left without announcing any progress.
Israel has allowed Qatar, the Persian Gulf nation, to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Gaza in recent years to prevent the collapse of the economy and keep calm in the Palestinian enclave.
The Israeli military said it carried out this latest air strike targeting Hamas’ military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including a location used to manufacture ammunition.
This clash, which started on Thursday night, was the most serious on the border since February.
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