GAZA, KOMPAS.com – Intense air strikes are launched Israel of Gaza since the sun rose on Wednesday (12/5/2021).
The incursion hit dozens of targets within minutes, sparking an explosion that rattled all of Gaza. The air raids continued throughout the day, filling the sky with pillars of smoke.
Also read: Senior Hamas Commander Bassem Issa, and Other Militants Killed in Israeli Rocket Attack
The night, ahead of Eid al-Fitr, changed that night. The streets of Gaza City resemble a ghost town, people flock to the room.
There are no lively nights, shopping and crowded restaurants on the last night of Ramadan in general.
United Nations (UN) and Egyptian officials said a ceasefire effort was underway. But there was no sign of progress.
The current eruption of violence began a month ago in Jerusalem. Israeli police during the holy month of Ramadan have been cracking down after threats to evict dozens of families Palestine by Jewish settlers sparked protests and clashes with police.
The focal point is the Al-Aqsa Mosque, built on a hilltop complex revered by Jews and Muslims.
At that location Israeli police fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters who threw chairs and stones at them.
Hamas, who claims to be defending Jerusalem, launched a barrage of rockets from the city Monday night, sparking fighting in recent days.
The Israeli military said Hamas militants had fired about 1,500 rockets in just three days. That’s roughly a third of the number fired during the entire 2014 war.
Israel, in the same period, has hit more than 350 targets in Gaza, a small territory where 2 million Palestinians live under the Israeli-Egyptian blockade, since Hamas took power in 2007.
Two infantry brigades were dispatched to the area, showing preparations for a possible field invasion.
Israeli television channel 12 reported Wednesday (12/5/2021) that the Security Cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed the expansion of the offensive.
Also read: Fighting increases, 40 people are killed in Gaza and Israel
UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the “indiscriminate launch of rockets” from civilian areas in Gaza towards Israeli population centers.
But he also urged Israel to demonstrate “maximum restraint.”
Meanwhile, AP reported US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken called Netanyahu to support Israel’s right to defend itself.
He said he had sent a senior diplomat to the region to try to defuse tensions.
Tactics of Israel
In tactics that echo past wars, Israel has begun targeting senior members of Hamas’s military wing.
This attack leveled three high-rise buildings, in a tactic that has attracted international attention in the past.
Israel claims all of these buildings house Hamas operations centers. But the building also includes apartments and residential businesses.
In all cases, Israel claims to have fired warning shots. It was said to allow others to escape, and there were no reports of civilian casualties.
Launch AP on Wednesday night (12/5/2021), the Gaza Ministry of Health said the death toll had risen to 65 Palestinians, including 16 children and five women.
Hamas confirmed the deaths of seven militants, and admitted that a top commander and several other members were killed.
While Israel reported seven people were killed, four of them died on Wednesday (12/5/2021). The victims included a soldier who was killed by an anti-tank missile and a 6 year old boy who was hit by a rocket attack.
The Israeli military claims the number of militants killed so far is much higher than Hamas admits.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, said at least 14 militants had been killed that day. It consists of 10 people of whom are members of the “top management of Hamas” and four weapons experts.
In all, Israel claims about 30 militants have been killed since the fighting began.
Also read: Get to know Iron Dome, Israel’s Weapon to Counter Hamas Rockets
Civil clashes
The fighting has sparked violent clashes between Arabs and Jews in Israel, in scenes not seen since 2000.
Netanyahu warned that he was prepared to use an “iron fist if necessary” to calm the violence.
But ugly clashes erupted across the country late Wednesday.
Crowds of Jews and Arabs fought in the center of Lod, the center of the problem, despite the emergency and curfew.
Near Bat Yam, a mob of Jewish nationalists attacked an Arab motorist, dragged him from his car and beat him until he was motionless.
In the West Bank, the Israeli military says it foiled a Palestinian shooting attack that wounded two people. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the suspected gunman was killed. No details were immediately available.
Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in the center of the West Bank city of Hebron on Wednesday evening (12/5/2021). -It remains unclear how the fighting in Gaza will affect Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political future.
He failed to form a government coalition after inconclusive parliamentary elections in March. Now his political rivals have three weeks to try to form a coalition.
His rivals have approached the small Arab Islamist party. But the longer the fighting lasts, the more it could hamper their efforts to form coalitions.
That condition could increase Netanyahu’s strength if another election was held, because security is a strong promise with the public.
Also read: The US Claims Limited Capability to End the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since the militant group seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched an investigation into possible war crimes by Israel and Hamas.
In a brief statement, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said he stressed concern over the escalating violence and “the possibility of crime.”
The ICC is investigating Israeli actions in past wars in Gaza.
The problem is, Israel is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC, and rejects the allegations.
But in theory, the ICC could issue warrants and try to arrest Israeli suspects while traveling abroad.
Conricus, a military spokesman, said Israeli forces respected international law on armed conflict and were doing their best to minimize civilian casualties.
Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group fired rockets from residential areas.
Emanuel Gross, a professor from Haifa University’s Law School, said Israel should “take the ICC’s concerns into account”.
But he believes the Israeli military has a strong legal foundation, while rockets hit Israeli cities.
“If you are attacked by a terrorist group, (It means) you are defending yourself,” he told AP.
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