Israel carried out a series of airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday in retaliation to incendiary balloons launched from the enclave that sparked fires in southern Israel a day earlier. The attack, which is the first after an Egypt-brokered ceasefire deal was signed by Israel and Hamas to end last month’s hostilities, comes as far-right Israelis marched in Jerusalem shouting racist slogans against Palestinians on Tuesday.
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The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that in response to “arson balloons” launched from Gaza that caused “multiple fires” in Israel, fighter jets “struck Hamas military compounds” used as “meeting sites for terror operatives.” According to the Times of Israel, the IDF stated that it was prepared for another round of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Arson balloons were launched from Gaza into Israel yesterday, causing multiple fires. In response, IDF fighter jets struck Hamas military compounds last night, which were used as meeting sites for Hamas terror operatives.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 16, 2021
Hamas will bear the consequences for its actions. pic.twitter.com/lYhqfx26fm
“The IDF is prepared for all scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities, in the face of continued terror acts from the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli army said in a statement. The Hamas-affiliated Palestinian media centre reported that no Gazans were injured in the attacks.
On Tuesday, the Gazan militants launched the explosives strapped to balloons, causing at least 20 fires in southern Israel. As per Israeli fire and rescue services, fires broke out near the Eshkol and Sha’ar Hanegev regions next to the Gaza Strip and were immediately brought under control by firefighting and emergency services. The arson balloons were launched as ultranationalist groups in Israel marched through East Jerusalem, chanting slogans like “death to Arabs” and “may your villages burn.” While the march was allowed to take place by the new Israeli government, lawmakers criticised the racist slogans raised during the event.
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Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid took to Twitter to condemn the racism displayed at the march. Lapid said that while the march had to be “permitted” according to law, the slogans raised during the demonstration were “abominable.” He mentioned that it was “inconceivable” that people could hold the Israeli flag and make racist remarks simultaneously. “This is neither Judaism nor Israeliness, and it is certainly not what our flag symbolises. These people are a disgrace to the people of Israel,” Lapid tweeted.
Hamas, on the other hand, claimed victory over the far-right march in Jerusalem. “The brave positions and decisions of the Palestinian resistance forced the Israeli occupation to change the path of the route away from Al-Aqsa Mosque, change the civil air routes and beef up the deployment of the Iron Dome,” Hamas stated. Since last month’s 11-day conflict with Israel, Hamas has repeatedly warned of reopening hostilities depending on the situation in Jerusalem.
Also Read: Hamas Is No Saviour of the Palestinians
Hamas used the violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank in May as a pretext to launch rockets towards Israel. Last month’s conflict saw militants in Gaza launch more than 4,000 rockets at Israel that killed 12 people. Israel responded by launching airstrikes that killed more than 200 Palestinians, including over 50 children. The conflict ended after Egyptian officials mediated a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.
The latest incident between Gazan militants and the Jewish State has threatened to end the fragile peace in the region once again.