Border hostilities in Gaza strip ignited the new round of tensions in the region. Israel injured dozens of Palestinians through shooting the protesters and striking the region using the warplanes.
Early on Sunday, Israeli air force struck central Gaza apparently in reaction to the protests and border hostilities. The Saturday protest resulted in the injury of an Israeli security policeman.
Flocks of Palestinians participated in a Hamas-organized rally on Saturday to bring awareness to the siege of the territory by Israel and Egypt. Hundreds of protesters rushed the concrete security barrier hurling stones and hand bombs at Israelis while trenching behind the smoke screen emanating from blazing tires.
The Israeli police reaction led to more violence with at least 41 injuries among the Palestinians who were shot. According to the Palestinian health ministry, a 13-year-old child was among the wounded. A separate report confirmed that at least 10 injuries entailed children.
The Israeli military claimed that fighter jets targeted “four weapons and storage manufacturing sites” owned by Hamas authorities. A statement by the army stressed that the military had sent military units to the area following the Saturday border hostilities. There have been no reports of casualties as a result of the attacks.
Hamas and other resistance factions in Gaza released a statement before the Israeli air raids in which they “saluted the courageous youngsters” who battled with Israel. The fighting was among the deadliest since the 11-day attack Israel launched against Gaza last May.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in May, under the excuse of firings from the territory, led to the death of hundreds of civilians. The hostilities escalated after Israeli soldiers invaded the Al-Aqsa complex numerous times. It turned to more violence with announcement on the compulsory eviction of Palestinian residents from Sheikh Jarrah.
Border Hostilities
The Saturday aggression was the worst protests since the termination of the “March of Return“, which actually took place along the Gaza’s border with Israel.
The demonstrations came to an end two years ago when a settlement between Israel and Hamas was brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations. Israel, according the to the agreement, pledged to ease the siege against the people in Gaza.
The new round of border hostilities comes as Israel announced the onset of Qatari supplies to Gaza. The move may strengthen the shaky Egyptian-mediated cease-fire that ended the hostilities in May.
Israel means to use a new mechanism for the new series of aids. Gaza households will receive the cash directly through the UN. Israel has control over the list of recipients and may impose limitations. The new mechanism slows down the reconstruction process and may help Israel implement its military and intelligence operations.
The new Israeli administration, nevertheless, had stopped Qatari funding. Bennet government demanded a system to verify that the money does not end up in the hands of Hamas.
Naftali Bennett has also halted the entry of critical rebuilding supplies. He insists that Hamas delivers back the bodies of soldiers from 2014 conflict. The infuriation of Gaza residents is due to the direct role of Israeli strikes in the devastation of city. They emphasize on the urgent and unconditioned need for reconstruction of the city.
According to Naji Sarhan, the undersecretary of Gaza’s ministry of public works and housing, harm from Israeli assaults on Gaza in May totaled $479 million.
Israel’s new round of air raids comes at a time when people in Palestine are expecting the reconstruction. The border hostilities is a Palestinian approach to attract attention to the ongoing life crisis in Gaza under severe blockade.
