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Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike on Gaza City. AFP photo
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Israel has unleashed its biggest air strikes on the Gaza Strip since the 2014 war, killing two Palestinians, while dozens of rockets targeted Israel, but Hamas said A ceasefire had been signed. The exchange of fire followed months of tension that raised the prospect of a fourth war in the Gaza Strip stuck since 2008.
Three Israelis were injured when a rocket hit a house in the city of Sderot near The two Palestinians killed were aged 15 and 16, struck by an Israeli strike on a building they were in the west of Gaza City, said the Ministry of Health of the enclave.
Twenty-five people Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Saturday that the Islamist movement, which heads the Gaza Strip, had accepted "the Egyptian offer to return to a ceasefire to stop this escalation. "
A spokesman for the Syrian Army refused to comment, but said his actions would depend on what is happening on the ground.
Smoke plumes invaded parts of the Gaza Strip as Israel struck dozens of targets belonging to militants. In Israel, air raid sirens sent people rushing to shelters in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip as rockets and mortars were fired from the Palestinian enclave in nearby communities. Israel said that about a hundred rockets and mortars had been fired, mostly mortars.
Hamas declared that it was defending in response to Israeli airstrikes
Israel accused Hamas of climbing, highlighting months of demonstrations and clashes along the border . its armed forces maintain that the Islamist movement seeks to cover attacks.
Militias and balloons carrying incendiary bombs from Gaza have also caused hundreds of fires on Israeli farms, putting political pressure on the government and the army to act. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had been "hit the hardest" since the 2014 war "and we will increase the strength of our attacks if necessary."
Hamas' Barhoum said the group was responsible for the dam against Israel and that it was executed "in response to the Israeli airstrikes".
"The Protection and Defense of Our People is a National Duty and a Strategy"
Tensions erupted between Hamas and Israel for months over mass protests and clashes along the border fence.
Demonstrations call on Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes in Israel Since protests and clashes erupted along the border on March 30, at least 141 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli gunfire. 19659003] The majority of those killed took part in demonstrations and clashes, and Gaza's fireballs and kites caused 750 fires and burned 2,600 hectares, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of damage. the Israeli fire service.
On July 9, Israel closed its only goods crossing with the Gaza Strip in response to fires.
Hamas described this movement as a "crime against humanity," Gaza is already suffering from deep poverty. aggravation of humanitarian conditions. Border protests peaked on May 14, when the United States moved their Israeli embassy to the disputed city of Jerusalem, but continued at a lower level since.
Friday, Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians, including a teenager An Israeli soldier was also moderately injured when a grenade was thrown at him from the northern Gaza Strip, according to the army.
Molotov cocktails, burning tires and stones were also launched. towards his soldiers, according to the Israeli army.
Israel says its use of live fire is necessary to defend its borders and stop infiltrations. Palestinians and rights groups say unarmed protesters are shot dead without any real threat.
The Israeli army said Saturday's strikes targeted Hamas-owned military installations.
Among the main targets was the headquarters of the Hamas battalion in Beit Lahia. The Israeli army said in a statement: "A weapons manufacturing site and storage facilities sheltering various types of weapons, including Hamas." Naval forces were also affected,
The Israeli army said air strikes took place in the morning and touched "complexes used to prepare terrorist attacks and a Hamas terrorist training center". – AFP
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