Gaza Flare-up: Israeli Army Strikes Hamas Targets; Dozens of Rockets Launched at Israel

In biggest attack since the 2014 war, the Israeli army says it struck 60 targets, including Hamas’ Beit Lahia battalion headquarters ? Hamas launches dozens of rockets at Israel ? Rocket explodes near Israeli town

Almog Ben Zikri,  Jack Khoury, Amos Harel  and  Yaniv Kubovich, HAARETZ

Israel’s army renewed air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday after 31 rockets were fired from the Strip overnight, the military said. The army targeted militant sites belonging to Hamas. No injuries were reported, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

Dozens of rocket sirens sounded in southern Israeli communities near the border, including the areas of Sha’ar Hanegev, Eshkol and Ashkelon. Alarms continue to be heard of at this hour.

This is the biggest attack since the 2014 war, the Israeli army said, with 60 targets struck, including Hamas’ Beit Lahia battalion headquarters.

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The Eshkol Regional Council said one rocket landed in an empty field; another was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.

On Saturday, six of the 31 rockets were intercepted by the missile defense system; one exploded near an Israeli border community. No injuries were reported.

The Israeli army struck two Hamas tunnels and a training camp in the Strip, among other targets.

The Israeli army said the attack was in response to Hamas’ activities along the border and the incendiary balloons and kites.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been criticized by opposition figures who have accused him of mishandling the situation in the Strip and for not doing enough to protect Israeli border communities.

On Saturday, a 20-year-old Palestinian died from wounds sustained in clashes during border protests Friday, bringing the death toll to two following the latest round of demonstrations, the Gaza Health Ministry reported.

Meanwhile, footage of the 15-year-old Palestinian who was killed by Israeli army fire on Friday emerged, showing him trying to climb the fence and getting shot.

The two deaths bring the total toll since the beginning of the so-called “March of Return” to 139.

On Friday, an IDF officer was moderately wounded by a grenade thrown by demonstrators in northern Gaza. The IDF opened fire in the direction of the march in response.