ISRAELI FORCES LAUNCH AIR STRIKE ON GAZA PROMPTS FEARS OF WIDER FIGHTING

Fri 07 Apr 2023:

The Israel Defense Forces announced a strike on Gaza on Thursday evening, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond to 34 rockets fired into Israeli territory from Lebanon, according to the military.

The Israeli military operation, dubbed “The Strong Hand,” has resulted in reports of explosions throughout Gaza, as warplanes fly overhead. So far, no casualties or injuries have been reported, but the missile strike has targeted at least five locations.

Israel attacks Gaza with deadly air strikes#Gaza #AlAqsaMosque #AlAqsa pic.twitter.com/asTaQddolO

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) April 6, 2023

They include agricultural land in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, two sites south of Gaza City, farmland east of the Al-Zaitoun neighbourhood near Gaza City and a site east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The news source AFP said a Palestinian security source has indicated that Hamas training sites were struck in the attack.

On Twitter, the Israel Defence Forces also said that air raid sirens are sounding in southern Israel.

Israel attacks Gaza with deadly air strikes pic.twitter.com/G72m469aYh

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) April 6, 2023

Hamas issues response to growing escalation

“The enemy continues its crime against the Palestinian people, after blowing up the situation with this barbaric attack on Al-Aqsa,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem said on Friday.

Hamas announced that “Israel bears full responsibility for this dangerous escalation and for what will happen in the region,” and that “[Israel’s] aggression against Jerusalem and Gaza will not weaken the young rebels and the brave resistance that will remain to protect our people, Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.”

The spokesman for the Health Ministry in Gaza, Dr. Ashraf Elkadra, added that “We are following developments in the field, so far no casualties have arrived at the hospitals in the Gaza Strip.”

More to follow.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent