Amid rising border tensions, Israel bombed Hamas weapons manufacturing site

The IDF bombed Gaza today in response to incendiary balloons launched from the enclave, two days later the border area was strained by a violent demonstration in which 41 Palestinians and Israeli border police were shot and wounded.

In a statement, the military reported: “Throughout the summer, Hamas launched incendiary balloons from Gaza into Israel. In response to further Hamas attacks, today we hit an arms manufacturing center, rocket launching center and tunnel entrances in Gaza. We will continue to respond firmly against all terrorist activity in Gaza. “

About ten fires caused the balloons launched today from the enclave in the midst of escalating tension between Israel and the Palestinian militias when they try to consolidate the truce that ended the May war.

On Saturday, Palestinian factions reissued those known as the Return marches (2018-2019), protests that challenge the line of demarcation with Israel from the blockaded enclave, and in which an Israeli border guard was injured by shots fired by an activist from Gaza.

Israeli troops used dispersal means, including live ammunition, before those who approached, due to the sabotage of the separation fence, throw explosives and attempt to steal weapons from soldiers who shoot through an open window in a concrete wall.

An Israeli border guard was attacked by a gun from Gaza and is in critical condition from a close range headshot.

The protests of this Saturday lasted three hours in the most violent events in this border area since the Return steps, calling for an end to the blockade of Gaza and the return of Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel.

Palestinian armed militias have called for a new call this Wednesday, at the height of tension after the Israeli retaliatory bombings on Saturday for the violent demonstration and after today, Egypt closed the crossing through the Rafah border post.

The call to demonstrate coincides with the negotiations so that transfer money sent from Qatar to Gaza – traditional donor – intended mainly for the reconstruction of the enclave.

(With information from EFE)

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