Israel-Gaza truce ends, fresh violence erupts
31 Oct 2012 5:05 AM IST
An Egyptian-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, has been shattered with militants firing some 20 rockets into the Jewish nation and Israeli jets retaliating by bombarding rocket launching sites in Palestine.
Hamas affiliated sites were hit overnight in Israeli airstrikes in east of Khan Younis in south Gaza and in Beit Hanoun in the north, causing damage to the surrounding area.
Witnesses told the local media that the sites suffered significant damage, and surrounding buildings, including Beit Hanoun municipality building, were also affected.
No casualties were reported.
Gaza residents also reported that a building site was flattened east of Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, and another Israeli strike hit an empty area south of Gaza City.
The Israeli army said it ‘targeted a rocket launching site and a terror activity site in the northern Gaza Strip as well as a terror activity site in the southern Gaza Strip.’
It said the strikes were ‘in response to the incessant rocket fire at southern Israel,’ noting that direct hits were confirmed.
Israelis living in the southern part of the country had to take shelter in protected rooms several times last night and this morning as the warning siren, The Red alert system, sounded indicating them to run to the shelter rooms to ward off some 20 rockets that were fired towards them from the Gaza Strip.
All rockets landed in open areas without causing injuries or damage.
Hamas’ military wing - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades - claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.
In a statement, Hamas said the fire was ‘in response to the continued Israeli aggression in Gaza.’
The incidents followed a three-day lull since an upsurge in violence last week in which Israel killed at least seven Palestinian militants and around 80 rockets were fired at Israeli towns, damaging some homes and wounding several agricultural workers.
Egypt had brokered an unofficial truce between the two sides late Wednesday, after three days of escalation in violence. [PTI]
Hamas affiliated sites were hit overnight in Israeli airstrikes in east of Khan Younis in south Gaza and in Beit Hanoun in the north, causing damage to the surrounding area.
Witnesses told the local media that the sites suffered significant damage, and surrounding buildings, including Beit Hanoun municipality building, were also affected.
No casualties were reported.
Gaza residents also reported that a building site was flattened east of Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, and another Israeli strike hit an empty area south of Gaza City.
The Israeli army said it ‘targeted a rocket launching site and a terror activity site in the northern Gaza Strip as well as a terror activity site in the southern Gaza Strip.’
It said the strikes were ‘in response to the incessant rocket fire at southern Israel,’ noting that direct hits were confirmed.
Israelis living in the southern part of the country had to take shelter in protected rooms several times last night and this morning as the warning siren, The Red alert system, sounded indicating them to run to the shelter rooms to ward off some 20 rockets that were fired towards them from the Gaza Strip.
All rockets landed in open areas without causing injuries or damage.
Hamas’ military wing - Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades - claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.
In a statement, Hamas said the fire was ‘in response to the continued Israeli aggression in Gaza.’
The incidents followed a three-day lull since an upsurge in violence last week in which Israel killed at least seven Palestinian militants and around 80 rockets were fired at Israeli towns, damaging some homes and wounding several agricultural workers.
Egypt had brokered an unofficial truce between the two sides late Wednesday, after three days of escalation in violence. [PTI]
Next Story
