The Israeli military announced Tuesday that it carried out strikes against four sites occupied by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in response to arson balloons and the firing of machine guns at Israel by the Islamist terrorist group.
“All summer, Hamas launched arson balloons from Gaza into Israel. In response to Hamas’ renewed attacks today, we struck a weapons manufacturing site, rocket launch site & tunnel entrances in Gaza,” the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced.
The incendiary balloons from Hamas were “another example of how Hamas continues to employ terror tactics and target civilians,” the Israeli military said, adding that it would continue to “respond forcefully to any terror attempts emanating from Gaza.”
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the arson balloons. The balloons had set off several fires in southern Israel, the Israelis said.
15-Year-Old Killed
Separately, the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 15-year-old Palestinian boy was killed overnight in a clash with Israeli soldiers. The boy was later identified as Imad Hashash.
According to Reuters and The Associated Press, the Israeli military said it was carrying out an arrest raid in the Balata refugee camp near the city of Nablus, when its troops came under fire from nearby rooftops.
The Israeli military said one of its soldiers opened fire at a person who was about to throw a large object on the Israeli troops. It is unclear whether the 15-year-old boy who was killed was the same person about to drop the object.
The latest Israeli strikes in response to arson balloons come after events on Aug. 21, which saw a Hamas-organized protest along the Israeli border. The IDF said that hundreds of rioters approached a security fence and tried to climb it, as well as hurl explosive devices at IDF troops, prompting the IDF to respond with “riot dispersal means, including when necessary live fire.”
Israeli troops shot and wounded 41 Palestinians, critically injuring two, medics said, according to Reuters.
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