Israeli air strikes in Gaza after rocket launches | VIDEO

Defence Redefined

Published on 27/06/2020 at 12:00

The Israeli Air Force struck Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip on Friday night in retaliation for rocket launches against the southern part of Israeli territory by the Palestinian enclave. The exchange of fire is set against a backdrop of rising tensions as a key date for Israel’s plan to annex much of the occupied West Bank approaches.

Two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel last Friday night, but no casualties were reported. The first aid service said air defense sirens sounded in the area of Sderot, an Israeli city a few kilometers from the Palestinian enclave. Hours later, Israeli fighters hit “factories” manufacturing ammunition and rockets in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said today.

#Israeli war jets raided and bombarded several civilian places including agricultural lands for the sake of destroying the already poor economy of the besieged #Gaza last night.#GazaUndwrAttackpic.twitter.com/kBfhmhNj8u @middneews

— Middle East News (@middneews) June 27, 2020

Sources close to the security forces in Gaza confirmed to the French Agency that the strikes in the area of Han Younis, at the southern end of the Palestinian enclave of two million people. The previous rocket launch from the Gaza Strip against Israel was recorded in early May.

On Thursday, Hamas’s armed wing warned Israel against implementing the plan to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank, which it said would be tantamount to “declaring war”. “The resistance sees the annexation of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley as a declaration of war against our people, and we will make sure that the enemy regrets it,” said Abu Obaidah, a spokesman for the Ezedin al-Qassam Brigades.

The statement came as concerns escalated as the expected Israeli decision to implement the US Middle East plan approached. This includes the annexation by Israel of the Jordan Valley and the Jewish settlements on the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by the Israeli army, and the establishment of a very reduced Palestinian state.

The Palestinian Authority, Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip condemn the US plan, which is also being denounced by the United Nations, Europeans and the Arab League. In recent years, Israel and Hamas have been involved in three wars (2008, 2012, 2014). Despite the ceasefire in recent months, the two sides have clashed occasionally, with rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and retaliatory blows from the Israeli army.

Also read: Damascus | Two Syrian soldiers have been killed in Israeli air strikes

 

 

With information from CNA