Israel strikes Hamas in Gaza

The Israeli military struck Hamas sites in Gaza early yesterday.

The occupation regime said it hit 15 Hamas targets, including military compounds, munition factories and naval forces.

The strikes come after militants broke days of calm along the volatile frontier by firing projectiles towards Israeli communities.

Israel’s Iron Dome defence system intercepted some and others landed in Gaza.

Sirens wailed in southern Israel overnight warning of incoming rockets. No one was hurt on either side.

Last week, Gaza militants fired dozens of mortar shells and Israel struck back, in the most violent exchange between the two sides since the 2014 war.

Neither side appeared interested in a full-blown conflict, and both exercised restraint.

Fighters in Gaza did not fire long-range rockets at Israel’s major cities, as they did in 2014, and Israeli air strikes were focused on unmanned military targets.

Hamas said it reached a ceasefire through mediators, which Israel denied.

Any time Hamas or the smaller Islamic Jihad group resorts to firing rockets, they risk triggering a fierce Israeli response, especially if there are serious casualties on the Israeli side.

Israel has launched three wars on Gaza since 2007 resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palesitnians.

At least 119 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli sniper fire since peaceful protests on the Gaza/Israel began in late March.