Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said that Israel was prepared for “any scenario” in the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to an official statement.
“We are in the midst of a battle that involves an exchange of blows and I can tell you that the [Israeli] army is ready for any scenario,” Netanyahu reportedly said during a military inspection with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Asked whether ongoing tension along the Gaza-Israel border fence might be resolved non-militarily, he added: “I believe we are taking the right steps.”
Israeli soldiers shot and martyred a Palestinian at the Gaza border. Those horrific moments were captured on camera.
Israeli troops martyr Palestinian on Gaza border
Meanwhile, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Egyptian officials had called on Hamas to stop Palestinian activists in Gaza from flying incendiary kites and balloons into Israeli territory.
According to the newspaper, Hamas responded to the Egyptian request by saying it had “already conveyed to Cairo this week its inability to end the practice”.
In recent weeks, activists in Gaza have been flying incendiary kites and balloons into Israel as part of ongoing demonstrations along the security fence.
Since the rallies first kicked off on Mar. 30, more than 130 Palestinian demonstrators have been killed -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli army gunfire.
Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.
A Palestinian youth has succumbed to wounds he sustained from Israeli fire during anti-occupation protests in the Gaza Strip, according to the Health Ministry on Tuesday.Sari Al-Shawbki was shot and critically injured in the neck during protests near Gaza border two months ago, the ministry said in a statement.“He passed away at St. Joseph Hospital in East Jerusalem where he was taken for medical treatment," the ministry added.EU voices concern over Israeli attacks in GazaSince the rallies began in March, more than 130 Palestinians have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli army gunfire.Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal territory’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.
Gazan dies of wounds in Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that any cease-fire deal with Hamas would not apply to the use of incendiary kites and balloons used by Palestinian activists to attack Israeli territory.On Saturday, Israel and Hamas -- the latter of which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 -- reportedly agreed to the terms of an Egyptian cease-fire proposal.While visiting the city of Sderot on Monday, however, Netanyahu said that the deal would not apply to the use of incendiary kites and balloons by Palestinian activists in the blockaded Gaza Strip.“If this cannot be understood with words, it will be made clear by the Israeli army,” Israeli radio quoted Netanyahu as saying.Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip injure 2The prime minister reportedly made the remarks following a dispute between Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Army Chief-of-Staff Gadi Eizenkot over how the military should respond to the improvised flying weapons.On Sunday, Israeli radio reported that Bennett, along with Interior Security Minister Gelad Ardan, had defended the right of Israeli troops to fire on kite-launchers, while Eizenkot had expressed opposition to the practice.Earlier Sunday, an Israeli warplane fired on a group of Palestinian activists launching incendiary kites and balloons near the Gaza-Israel border fence.According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent based in the area, the attack -- which apparently failed to cause any casualties -- occurred east of Gaza’s city of Deir al-Balah.Israel conducts 40 attacks against GazaIn a statement, an Israeli army spokesman said that the strike had targeted a team of Hamas fighters launching “arson balloons” into Israeli territory.In recent weeks, Palestinian activists in Gaza have been flying incendiary kites and balloons into Israeli territory as part of ongoing rallies along the Gaza-Israel security fence that began on Mar. 30.Since the rallies began, more than 130 Palestinians have been martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli army gunfire.Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.Video: For 16th week in row, Gazans protest siege, occupationThey also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal territory’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of basic commodities.On Saturday, two Palestinians were martyred when Israeli warplanes struck targets in Gaza in ostensible retaliation for rockets allegedly fired from Gaza into southern Israel.
Gaza truce doesn't apply to incendiary kites: Israel PM
They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of basic commodities.