Israel accuses Syria and Iran of orchestrating rocket attacks on Gaza



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The Israeli army on Saturday accused the Syrian government of ordering Palestinian militants in Gaza backed by Iran to fire dozens of rockets on southern Israel, and threatened to retaliate regardless of their choice.

The rocket barrage began on Friday night. and continued until Saturday, unleashed many retaliatory strikes by an Israeli plane against Gaza that could escalate into a larger conflict.

The new outbreak comes hours after the deaths of six Palestinians in new clashes on the border between Gaza and Israel, even as Islamist leaders in that territory claimed that Egypt was seeking to negotiate a return to calm .

"The rockets launched against Israel … we know that orders and incentives were given in Damascus with the clear involvement of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards," said the spokesman. of the army, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, referring to the Guards' foreign operations unit.

At least 39 rockets have been fired on southern Israel by the Islamic Jihad group since Friday night, and 17 of them have been intercepted by anti-aircraft means and the others crashed on the ground, announced the army

. strikes targeting about 90 sites belonging to the Islamist leaders of the territory, Hamas.

Conricus said that Israel held Hamas responsible for the fire, which had been perpetrated by Islamic Islam on the order of Syria and its ally, the United States. # 39; Iran.

"We hold Hamas responsible for everything that comes from Gaza," he said. Conricus said that Israel would also retaliate against the Syrian government and Iran's Quds force, and that it would choose where.

"Part of the speech in which we are going to deal with this fire is also in Damascus and the Quds Force". "Our response is not geographically limited."

The largest rocket barrage from Gaza has occurred for months, despite progress being made in the conclusion of an agreement negotiated by Egypt to end months of violent protests on along the border, in exchange for a relief from the imperative blockade imposed by Israel for eleven years.

Sunday Israel reopened Gaza's people and goods crossing points and renewed on Wednesday the flow of fuel provided by Qatar to the Palestinian enclave, demonstrating its confidence in Hamas resistance to violence .

Friday's parades, however, attracted 16,000 people.

Five Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli gunfire during separate incidents along the border fence, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

A sixth died following the accidental explosion of a hand grenade that he held, witnesses said.

There were no reports of casualties in Gaza as a result of Israeli airstrikes, which began late Friday and continued on Saturday.

In Gaza City, a four – story complex after AFP correspondents, the Israeli army said it was "bad. a major Hamas headquarters.

Israel has waged three wars since 2008 against Hamas and its allies, including Islamic Jihad, and Egypt. and the United Nations led diplomatic efforts to avoid a fourth.

The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, the second militant group in Gaza, threatened to continue firing rockets on Saturday.

"Resistance is planning an expansion – the answer in number and type, if the enemy continues its aggression against our people," the statement added.

Israel has hit Syria dozens of times in recent years, claiming that it prevented Iran from providing advanced weapons to the enemies of the Jewish state. . The peace envoy of US President Donald Trump, Jason Greenblatt, condemned the rocket fire.

"More rockets from Gaza to Israel, another night where parents will incite terrified children to cover up, and violence will not create a future for anyone," he said on Twitter. 19659002] Palestinians have rallied to protest along the border at least once a week since 30 March.

At least 213 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire in Gaza since the beginning of the demonstrations, according to figures collected by AFP.

died during protests as air strikes or tank fire killed a smaller number of soldiers.

An Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper during the same period.

Protesters call to be allowed to return to their lands families fled or were expelled from the 1948 war that accompanied the creation of Israel.

They also protest against the paralyzing blockade of Israel. Hamas representatives denied having been reached, but confirmed to AFP that progress was being made.

Israel claims that its blockade is necessary to isolate Hamas, while its critics say that this amounts to collective punishment of the two million Gazans.

(This story was not edited by Business Standard staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)

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