Israel strikes Gaza for second day in a row

Palestine

Published: 2018-02-19 12:10

Last Updated: 2024-03-23 22:41


Tensions started on Saturday when three Israeli soldiers were injured on borderline with Gaza. (Roya Arabic/Archive)
Tensions started on Saturday when three Israeli soldiers were injured on borderline with Gaza. (Roya Arabic/Archive)

For the second day in a row Israeli warplanes bombed several locations in the city of Rafah, southeast of Gaza, on Sunday night.

On Sunday night Israeli fighter jets were flying over the Strip at low altitudes where they launched thermo-flashing balloons.

Airstrikes targeted land in proximity to the destroyed international Gaza airport and left large craters on the ground. No casualties were reported according to Wafa news agency.

Israeli forces claimed the attack was in retaliation to a rocket launched from Gaza toward border areas. They also insisted there were no casualties or damages.

This attack was the second in the span of 24 hours. On Saturday night, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Rafah city. Another two Palestinians were injured in Nahda neighborhood in Rafah.

Tensions in Gaza rose after three Israeli soldiers were injured near the southern Gaza borders on Saturday when an explosive device detonated while they were trying to neutralize it. The object is said to be a Palestinian flag that might have been placed there during the Friday protests.

The Palestinian government has shifted blame to Israel by holding them responsible for escalations in Gaza. The government’s spokesman, Yousef al-Mahmoud, blamed Israel for the “grave” escalation. He called for reinforcing intra-Palestinian unity to counter the Israeli escalation, Wafa reported.