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ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT-NETANYAHU LEAD
Netanyahu vows more ‘massive strikes’ in response to Gaza rockets
JERUSALEM, May 5, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said Sunday he had ordered the military to launch further strikes
on Gaza Strip militants in response to rocket fire from the territory, as an
escalation entered its second day.
“I instructed the (military) this morning to continue its massive strikes
on terror elements in the Gaza Strip and ordered (it) to reinforce the troops
around the Gaza Strip with tanks, artillery and infantry forces,” Netanyahu
said at the start of a cabinet meeting.
Israel said around 450 rockets or mortars had been fired from the
Palestinian enclave run by Hamas since Saturday, and it responded with waves
of air and tank strikes.
Gazan authorities reported six Palestinians killed in the Israeli strikes,
including at least two militants.
But Israel disputed their account of the deaths of a pregnant mother and
her baby, blaming errant Hamas fire.
One 58-year-old Israeli man was killed overnight by a rocket strike on the
city of Ashkelon near the Gaza border, Israeli police and the hospital said.
Netanyahu is currently engaged in tough negotiations to form a new
government following his victory in April 9 elections.
A ceasefire brokered by UN and Egyptian officials between Israel and Hamas
had led to calm surrounding the elections.
But the past week saw a gradual uptick in violence as Hamas seeks further
concessions from Israel.
Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1510 hrs