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Gaza rockets hit Israel after 5 Palestinians killed in border flareup
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Oct 27, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A barrage of
rockets from Gaza hit Israel during the night, the army said Saturday, hours
after five Palestinians were killed during clashes on the Israeli border, in
a flareup that could jeopardise truce efforts.
The largest projectile attacks in months and the border fatalities came
despite talk of progress towards an Egyptian-brokered deal to end months of
often violent protests along the border.
“Overnight, dozens of rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip at
communities in southern Israel,” the army said in a statement, putting the
exact number in a separate announcement at 30.
“The IDF’s Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted approximately 10
projectiles,” the army said, adding that two rockets fell within the Gaza
Strip while the others landed in “open areas”.
Israeli medics said seven civilians were being treated for shock.
In response to the rockets, Israeli fighter jets, helicopters and drones
struck “approximately 80 Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip”.
There were no reports of Gaza casualties as a result of the strikes.
Hamas, the militant Islamist rulers of Gaza, did not claim responsibility
for the rockets, but Israel holds it responsible for any launches from the
coastal enclave.
“The rocket fire is conducted in a terror-filled atmosphere which is
generated by Hamas in the area of the security fence and in acts such as
tonight’s events,” the army said.
Islamic Jihad, the second largest militant group in Gaza, hailed the rocket
fire in a statement as a response to “Israeli aggressions”, stopping short
however of directly claiming responsibility for the launches.
A Hamas official said that following the escalation Egypt was again seeking
to negotiate a return to calm.
– ‘Riot dispersal means’ –
MORE/MR/ 1030 hrs
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Earlier, five Palestinians aged between 22 and 27 died in separate
incidents along the border fence, the Gaza health ministry said.
The army did not comment on the deaths but said around 16,000 “rioters and
demonstrators” had gathered along the border, with some setting tyres alight
and hurling rocks, firebombs and grenades towards soldiers.
Troops responded with “riot dispersal means”, a spokesman added.
Three of the men were shot dead east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, while
one was killed east of Jabalia in the north of the coastal territory, the
health ministry said.
A fifth man died east of Bureij in central Gaza when a hand grenade he was
holding exploded accidentally, witnesses said.
Palestinians have gathered for protests along the Gaza Strip’s border at
least weekly since March 30.
At least 212 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since
the protests began, according to figures collated by AFP.
The majority have died during protests, while smaller numbers have been
killed by airstrikes and tank fire.
One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper along the border
in the same period.
The protesters are calling to be allowed to return to lands their families
fled or were expelled from in a 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel
and which are now inside the Jewish state.
They are also protesting over Israel’s crippling blockade of Gaza.
Israel accuses Hamas of orchestrating the often violent demonstrations.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008 and much of the
international community considers the Islamist movement a terrorist
organisation.
– Truce deal at risk –
The fresh violence could also scupper hopes of a deal to end the months of
protests.
Egypt and the United Nations have been brokering indirect negotiations
between Hamas and Israel with the aim of calming the situation amid fears of
another war.
Last week, a rocket fired from Gaza hit an Israeli home, narrowly avoiding
killing a family. In response the Israeli army carried out air strikes on
around 20 Hamas targets in Gaza.
The London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat reported Friday that a deal had
been reached that would see the protests end in exchange for an easing of
Israel’s blockade.
Hamas officials denied a deal had been struck but confirmed to AFP that
progress was being made.
“We expect to reach an agreement very soon,” a senior Hamas official said
earlier Friday on condition of anonymity.
Israel also fully reopened its border crossings with the Gaza Strip this
week following a week of relative calm.
It allowed dozens of trucks of fuel paid for by Qatar into the strip,
having previously banned their entry in response to the border violence.
Israel says the decade-long blockade is necessary to isolate Hamas, while
critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza’s two million
residents.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1030 hrs