Gaza Strip: Palestinians and Israelis attack each other

The Israeli military then launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired six rockets at Israel overnight. The Israeli army said on Twitter that five missiles had been intercepted and one had fallen into an open area.

Shortly thereafter, the army then announced that it had launched aerial attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli army, the airstrikes were aimed at a “weapons factory” and a “military camp” run by the radical Islamist Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. There were initially no reports of deaths or injuries.

The militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks. It was therefore a retaliatory action for the most serious Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank since 2005. According to Palestinian information, at least ten Palestinians were killed on Wednesday. In addition, more than 100 people were injured during the operation in Nablus, according to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah. A 72-year-old and a 16-year-old were among the dead.

Wanted were members of Islamic Jihad

The Israeli military announced that the forces came under heavy fire during the attempted arrest of three terrorist suspects. Gunshots were then answered. The three men targeted by the operation are said to be members of Islamic Jihad and a terrorist cell in Jenin in the north of the West Bank.

Extremely tense security situation

Security experts see the risk of new terrorist attacks and further escalation in the heated mood. The security situation in the occupied West Bank has been tense for months. After a series of Palestinian terrorist attacks, raids by the Israeli military continue to take place there. The aim of the operations is to prevent further terror.

So far this year alone, 59 Palestinians have died in anti-terrorist operations and attacks. Many of them were armed fighters – but civilians are also among the victims time and again. Nine Israelis and one Ukrainian have been killed in attacks since the beginning of the year.

More violence is expected in the coming weeks when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Jewish holiday of Passover and Easter coincide.