Palestinian groups vow response to Israeli airstrikes
Resistance groups in Palestine won't remain silent to Israel's killing of civilians, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said early Saturday.
The movement said resistance groups had warned Israel not to kill innocents, but occupation forces continue to do so under the Gaza Strip’s blockade.
It added that the groups' hands “won't be tied” over the killings.
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.
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
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 army said on its Twitter account 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.
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
A Palestinian was martyred after Israeli soldiers opened fire in the West Bank city of Tubas, local health officials said Wednesday.Twenty-three-year-old Mohammed Basharat died after he was shot in the chest, said the officials.According to eye witnesses, Israeli soldiers used live bullets and tear gas against Palestinians.Officials from Israel and Palestine have not yet issued statements on the incident.Jewish settlers frequently stage attacks on Palestinian towns and farms and their Arab inhabitants across the Israeli-occupied West Bank.According to Palestinian figures, more than 650,000 Jewish settlers currently live on 196 settlements and more than 200 settler “outposts” scattered throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.International law regards the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all settlement-building activity there to be illegal.Palestinian youth gets life behind bars for 2017 attackIsrael dismantles Palestinian school in W. BankIsrael arrests two Palestinian fishermen off Gaza coast
Palestinian martyred by Israeli gunfire in West Bank