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 at southern Israel, and threatened to take retaliatory 'she is.

The rocket fire, which began on Friday night and continued on Saturday, triggered many retaliation strikes by an Israeli plane against Gaza, which could escalate into a wider conflict.

The new outbreak occurred a few hours after the deaths of six Palestinians in new clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, even as Islamist leaders in that territory, Hamas, declared that Egypt was trying to negotiate a return to calm.

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

At least 39 rockets have been fired on southern Israel by the Islamic Jihad group since Friday night, of which 17 have been intercepted by anti-aircraft defenses and the others have opened the ground, the agency said. army.

Israeli planes have carried out widespread retaliation strikes targeting about 90 sites belonging to Hamas, leader of the Islamist government.

Conricus said that Israel held Hamas responsible for the blaze, which had yet been perpetrated by Islamic Jihad at the request of Syria and its ally, 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 the Quds Force of Iran, and choose where.

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

The largest rocket barrage from Gaza for months has been held despite talks on an agreement with Egypt to end months of often violent protests along the border, in exchange for talks. a loosening of the 11-year blockade by Israel.

On Sunday, Israel reopened the borders of the people and goods in Gaza and renewed on Wednesday the Qatar-funded fuel flow to the Palestinian enclave, a sign of its confidence that Hamas would control the violence.

Friday's demonstrations, however, attracted 16,000 protesters, some facing Israeli soldiers.

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

A sixth died when a hand grenade that he held exploded by accident, witnesses said.

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The Israeli airstrikes, which began late Friday and continued on Saturday, do not report casualties in Gaza.

In Gaza City, a four-story building was completely destroyed during a strike, reported AFP correspondents.

The Israeli army said it was a major Hamas headquarters.

Since 2008, Israel has waged three wars against Hamas and its allies, including Islamic Jihad. 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 plans to expand the response in number and type, if the enemy continues its aggression against our people," he said.

Israel has hit Syria dozens of times in recent years, claiming that it prevented Iran from providing advanced weapons to enemies of the Jewish state.

US peace envoy Donald Trump, Jason Greenblatt, condemned the rocket fire.

"More rockets from Gaza to Israel, another night when parents will incite terrified children to cover, violence will not create a future for anyone," he said on Twitter.

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 protests began, according to figures collected by AFP.

The majority of them died during protests, while fewer groups were killed by air strikes or tank fire.

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

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

They also protest against the paralyzing blockade of Israel.

The reports Friday hinted that an agreement had been reached that would see the end of the protests in exchange for a loosening of the blockade.

Hamas officials denied having been hit, but confirmed to AFP that progress was being made.

Israel says its blockade is necessary to isolate Hamas, while critics say it is a collective punishment inflicted on the two million Gazans.

A fireball rises above Gaza City as a result of an Israeli air raid on October 27, 2018, one of about 90 being perpetrated in response to rocket fire the largest ever against Israel in months.

Members of a Palestinian civil defense team search the rubble of a building destroyed during an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on October 27, 2018.

Gaza's largest rocket dam on Israel for months has been held despite talks about progress toward an agreement negotiated by Egypt to end months of protests along the border in exchange for a loosening of the 11-year blockade imposed by Israel

Gaza protesters get in a truck waving Palestinian flags as they bring tires to burn to protect themselves during clashes along Israel's border in the east of Gaza City October 26, 2018.

Palestinian protester uses slingshot to launch stones during clashes following demonstration near Israeli border east of Gaza City

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