Israel strikes dozens of targets in Gaza Strip
Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday against several targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets it said were fired towards the country.
Fighter jets and helicopters pounded 80 Hamas targets in Gaza in an operation lasting more than two hours, the Israeli army said in a press release.
The army said on its Twitter account that 30 rockets had been fired from Gaza towards Israel since late Friday but 10 were intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defense system.
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Thursday that another confrontation with Hamas-run Gaza was “inevitable”. “There is no avoiding another confrontation with Hamas; we must attack them with great force,” Lieberman told Israeli public radio. “Neither [the provision of] fuel nor [the disbursement of public-sector] salaries will calm the situation [in Gaza],” he said.“Hamas leaders say they want the blockade [of the Gaza Strip] lifted, but this is not possible,” he asserted. Israel bombs three Hamas-linked sites in blockaded GazaLieberman added, however, that Israel’s defense establishment would “give a chance” to ongoing Egypt-brokered truce talks with Hamas, “so they don’t say I'm dragging Israel into conflict because of my personal agenda”. At dawn Thursday, Israeli fighter jets bombed three sites in Gaza affiliated with the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing. Earlier the same day, the Israeli army claimed that a rocket was fired from Gaza into Israeli territory. The latest escalations come amid a fresh round of shuttle diplomacy by Egyptian officials between Gaza and Ramallah aimed at hammering out a Hamas-Israel truce and fostering reconciliation between Hamas and rival Palestinian faction Fatah.
Conflict with Gaza 'inevitable': Israel's Lieberman
Sirens were heard in Israeli settlements near the Gaza-Israel buffer zone because of the rockets fired from Gaza.
Israel targeted several sites, including two weapons manufacturing facilities, five military compounds, a training compound, a tunnel and an anti-aircraft observation post.
There have been no deaths from the airstrikes, according to Palestinian medical sources in Gaza.
Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that Israeli jets struck five Hamas targets in Gaza.
Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said an Israeli airstrike damaged the Indonesia Hospital in northern Gaza.
Other eyewitnesses said several people at the hospital were slightly injured from glass shards and pieces of concrete.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Friday spoke with Lebanese President Michel Aoun to discuss the tense security situation at Southern Lebanon’s Mieh Mieh refugee camp, which has been rocked in recent days by armed clashes between rival Palestinian factions.According to a statement released by Haniyeh’s office, during their conversation, the two men agreed that the clashes -- which have pitted Fatah against the Ansar Allah movement -- must end immediately.Describing Lebanon’s security as a “Palestinian priority”, Haniyeh stressed the need to preempt any activity at the Mieh Mieh camp -- or at any other Palestinian refugee camps -- that might adversely affect the stability of the host country.Egypt resumes shuttle diplomacy between Hamas, IsraelThe two leaders also agreed on the need to allow Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.Violent clashes first erupted at the Mieh Mieh camp on Oct. 16 between members of Fatah and Ansar Allah.After a meeting of representatives of Palestinian factions held at Lebanese army headquarters, a truce was eventually hammered out, which called for the deployment of a Hamas-run force at the camp and the withdrawal of all gunmen from the facility.Located some four kilometers east of Lebanon’s southern city of Sidon, all three groups -- Fatah, Hamas and Ansar Allah -- reportedly maintain an armed presence inside the camp.First established in 1954, the Mieh Mieh refugee camp is currently home to some 5,000 Palestinian refugees.
Hamas chief, Lebanon leader discuss refugee camp unrest
Four Palestinians were martyred and 31 wounded after Israeli soldiers opened fire near the Gaza-Israel buffer zone, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Friday.Earlier, hundreds of Palestinians converged along the buffer zone as part of ongoing demonstrations against Israel’s decades-long occupation.Since the rallies began on March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.
Israeli fire martyrs four, injures 31 Palestinians at Gaza buffer zone
The hospital, inaugurated by the country’s vice president in 2016, was the latest foreign hospital to open in Gaza following the $34 million Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, a project Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – then premier -- agreed to sponsor in 2010.
Condemning the Israeli airstrikes, al-Qidra called on international organizations to protect medical institutions and paramedics against Israeli air attacks in Gaza.
The latest developments come after five Palestinians were killed and 85 others injured by Israeli army gunfire during demonstrations Friday along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Hundreds of Palestinians had converged along the zone as part of ongoing demonstrations against Israel’s decades-long occupation.
More than 200 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more injured by Israeli troops deployed near the buffer zone since such rallies began on March 30.
A Palestinian protester was killed on Friday by Israeli army gunfire near the Gaza-Israel buffer zone, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.In a statement, the ministry said that Mohamed Khaled Abdel-Nabi, 27, had been martyred by Israeli gunfire east of northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp.Earlier Friday, hundreds of Palestinians converged along the buffer zone as part of ongoing demonstrations against Israel’s decades-long occupation.Since the rallies began on March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed -- and thousands more injured -- by Israeli troops deployed along the other side of the buffer zone.Israel's Netanyahu made unpublicised visit to OmanIsraeli fire martyrs four, injures 31 Palestinians at Gaza buffer zone
Palestinian killed by Israel fire near Gaza buffer zone
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unpublicised visit to the Gulf state of Oman on Friday, and discussed peace initiatives in the Middle East, his office said.A statement from Netanyahu's office after he returned home, said he met with Omani leader Sultan Qaboos. A joint statement said that "ways to advance the peace process in the Middle East and matters of mutual interest," were discussed.In 1996, then-prime minister, the late Shimon Peres, visited Oman and Qatar and opened Israel Trade Representations in both Gulf states. His predecessor, the late Yitzhak Rabin, made the first such visit to Oman in 1994.Palestinian martyred by Israeli gunfire near Gaza buffer zone
Israel's Netanyahu made unpublicised visit to Oman
Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday against several targets in the Gaza Strip in response to over a dozen rockets it said were fired toward the country. Fighter jets and helicopters pounded targets in Gaza for more than two hours, including Hamas sites, the Israeli army said in a press release. The army said on Twitter that 14 rockets had been fired from Gaza towards Israel since late Friday but eight were intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defense system. There have been no deaths from the airstrikes, according to Palestinian medical sources in Gaza. The latest developments come after five Palestinians were killed and 85 others injured by Israeli army gunfire during demonstrations Friday along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Hundreds of Palestinians had converged along the zone as part of ongoing demonstrations against Israel's decades-long occupation. More than 200 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more injured by Israeli troops deployed near the buffer zone since such rallies began on March 30.Israel strikes several targets in Gaza Strip
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