Under the title "Outburst of Violence Between Israel and Hamas for the First Time Since Last Month's Fighting," Swiss Info reported a Reuters news item indicating that Israel launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday for the first time since the end of an 11-day conflict last month, in response to the launching of incendiary balloons from the Palestinian territory. The outbreak of violence, which represents the first test for the new Israeli government, followed a march organized by Jewish nationalists earlier on Tuesday. Hamas had threatened to respond to the march.
The Israeli military stated that its aircraft struck military facilities belonging to Hamas in Gaza City and Khan Younis in the southern part of the strip, and it is "prepared for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in response to ongoing terrorism emanating from Gaza." It added that the attacks were in response to the firing of incendiary balloons that the Israeli fire service reported caused approximately 20 fires in open fields near the border communities.
A Hamas spokesman confirmed the strikes, stating, "Our people and courageous resistance will continue to defend our rights and sanctities until the occupier is expelled from all our land." Earlier, thousands of Israelis flocked to the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, waving flags before heading to the Western Wall, which incited anger and condemnation from Palestinians.
Israel considers all of East Jerusalem its capital after occupying it in the 1967 war, a move that has not received international recognition. Palestinians wish to make East Jerusalem the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Prior to the Tuesday march, Israel enhanced its Iron Dome missile defense system in anticipation of potential missile attacks from Gaza. Participants in the march began to disperse after nightfall in Jerusalem, and there were no signs of missile launches from Gaza.
The march had originally been scheduled for May 10 as part of Israeli celebrations of "Jerusalem Day" marking the capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. At the last minute, the route was changed away from the Damascus Gate in the Old City and the Islamic Quarter, but that was not enough to dissuade Hamas from launching missiles towards Jerusalem.
