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ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT
First Gaza rocket in six weeks draws Israeli riposte
JERUSALEM, Dec 29, 2018 (AFP) – An Israeli aircraft hit a Hamas position
in the Gaza Strip late on Friday in response to the first fire from the
territory since a November flare-up, the military said.
“An army attack helicopter targeted a Hamas military position in the south
of the Gaza Strip,” an army statement said.
It said it had responded after a “launch towards Israel” that Israeli
media said was a rocket.
Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas said the Israeli aircraft fired two missiles
which damaged one of their positions but caused no casualties.
It was the first rocket fire from Gaza since an Egyptian-brokered
ceasefire announced on November 13 ended the worst flare-up around the
territory since a 2014 war.
In the space of 48 hours, hundreds of rockets and mortar rounds were fired
into Israel, killing one person and wounding 27.
The barrage followed a botched Israeli commando raid which killed a Hamas
commander and six other militants as well as an Israeli officer.
Seven Gazans were killed and 26 wounded in retaliatory Israeli air strikes
before the ceasefire took effect.
Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since
2008, and mass protests along the border since March 30 have triggered deadly
clashes with the Israel army that have raised fears of a fourth.
During a protest on Friday, Israeli fire killed Karam Fayyad, 26, on the
border east of the city of Khan Yunis, the Gaza health ministry said.
At least 240 Palestinians have been killed since the demonstrations began,
most of them by Israeli fire during border clashes but also by air and tank
strikes.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1530 hrs