Israel hits Gaza with airstrikes and sends in tanks against militant sites

Israel carried out ‘wide-scale’ airstrikes and deployed tanks against militant sites in Gaza killing four Palestinians on Friday after gunmen shot at soldiers near the border, officials said.

Israel’s military said it struck eight Hamas positions after its soldiers came under fire, before later claiming ‘fighter jets commenced a wide-scale attack against Hamas military targets throughout the Gaza Strip.’

The military has not commented on the condition of the soldiers shot but has described the attack as ‘severe.’ 

 

Palestinian youths sit by the body of killed protester Mohammed Badwan at al-Shifa hospital

An explosion is seen following an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip on July 20

An explosion is seen following an Israeli air strike in the southern Gaza Strip on July 20

Paramedics push a youth, who was injured during Israeli bombardment, as he lies on a gurney

Paramedics push a youth, who was injured during Israeli bombardment, as he lies on a gurney

Israeli aircraft and tanks hit targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Pictured a fireball exploding in Gaza City

Israeli aircraft and tanks hit targets throughout the Gaza Strip. Pictured a fireball exploding in Gaza City

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. Israel's military said it struck Hamas positions after its soldiers came under fire

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. Israel’s military said it struck Hamas positions after its soldiers came under fire

Pictured, smoke plumes rising from Israeli bombardment in Gaza City in the strikes today

Pictured, smoke plumes rising from Israeli bombardment in Gaza City in the strikes today

Smoke and flames rise into the air after Israeli air strikes targeted points, reported to belong to Hamas, in Ez-Zeitoun town south of Gaza City

Smoke and flames rise into the air after Israeli air strikes targeted points, reported to belong to Hamas, in Ez-Zeitoun town south of Gaza City

Protesters set tyres on fire as Israeli forces intervene to disperse demonstrators taking part in the "Great March of Return" demonstration

Protesters set tyres on fire as Israeli forces intervene to disperse demonstrators taking part in the ‘Great March of Return’ demonstration

It said ‘Hamas chose to escalate the security situation and will bear the consequences for its actions.’The Gaza Health Ministry said four Palestinians were killed.

The militant Islamic Hamas that rules Gaza said three of the Palestinians killed were members of the group. Gaza media reported that gunmen had fired mortars toward the border.

Earlier Friday, Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman visited Sderot, an Israeli town near Gaza that has been hard hit by Palestinian rockets over the years. 

‘The heads of Hamas are forcibly leading us to a no choice situation in which we will need to embark on wide and painful military operation,’ Lieberman said.

On Saturday, Israel pounded Hamas targets in its largest bombardment campaign since the 2014 war, as Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets toward Israel.

Israel says it has no interest is engaging in another war with Hamas, but says it will no longer tolerate the Gaza militant campaign of daily flying incendiary kites and balloons across the border that have torched Israeli crops, burned nature reserves and killed wildlife.

Hamas today vowed to continue weekly protests and the launching of incendiary devices at Israel.

Khalil al-Hayya, a top Hamas leader, said ‘the protests will remain, flaming and existing, and its tools will multiply and diversify, including kites, until our goals are achieved.’

Israel's military said it struck eight Hamas positions after its soldiers came under fire

Israel’s military said it struck eight Hamas positions after its soldiers came under fire

The military has not commented on the condition of the soldiers shot but has described the attack as 'severe'

The military has not commented on the condition of the soldiers shot but has described the attack as ‘severe’

Hamas vowed it will continue weekly protests and the launching of incendiary devices at Israel.

Hamas vowed it will continue weekly protests and the launching of incendiary devices at Israel.

Palestinian paramedics bring into al-Shifa hospital injured protester Mohammed Badwan

Palestinian paramedics bring into al-Shifa hospital injured protester Mohammed Badwan

Shots were fired at troops along the border, the army said, with Gaza's health ministry reporting three Palestinians killed

Shots were fired at troops along the border, the army said, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting three Palestinians killed

Israel pounded Hamas targets in its largest bombardment campaign since the 2014 war

Israel pounded Hamas targets in its largest bombardment campaign since the 2014 war

Palestinian youths carry the body of killed protester Mohammed Badwan to the morgue at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City

Palestinian youths carry the body of killed protester Mohammed Badwan to the morgue at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City

For the first time, an incendiary balloon of the kind used in Gaza was found in the garden of southeast Jerusalem home close to the Palestinian town of Beit Jala. Police sappers dealt with the device.

The weekly protests led by Gaza’s Hamas rulers against Israel are meant in part to draw attention to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed after the militant group assumed control of Gaza in 2007.

The demonstrations have been fuelled in large part by pervasive despair caused by the blockade which has caused widespread economic hardship.

Over 135, mostly unarmed, Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the border protests began on March 30.

Israel says it is defending its sovereign border and accuses Hamas, a group sworn to its destruction, of using the protests as cover for attempts to breach the border fence and attack civilians and soldiers.

 

 



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