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Six rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip towards southern Israel on Thursday, February 23. A promised response from Palestinian groups hours after an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank left 11 people dead. In response to the Palestinian actions, which did not leave any injuries, combat planes bombed several points in the enclave.
An exchange of fire that fuels tensions.
Air raid sirens sounded in southern Israel in the early hours of this Thursday, February 23, when six rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip.
According to the Army of the Jewish-majority country, five of the devices were intercepted by the Iron Dome, its air defense system, and another fell in an open area. Reason why there were no injuries or material damage.
However, the authorities indicated that the projectiles increased the range, which is why alarms went off in the cities of Ashkelon and Sdrot, while thousands of people ran to their shelters.
Almost immediately, warplanes from Benjamin Netanyahu’s forces launched bombing attacks on the Palestinian enclave.
According to that Administration, the target was a weapons manufacturing site belonging to Hamas, an Islamist group with a political and an armed arm that controls Gaza.
No casualties were reported on the Palestinian side either.
The last chapter of tension
These new crossfire actions occurred just after on Wednesday, February 22, a Deadly Israeli army raid on the occupied West Bank city of Nablus leaves 11 Palestinians dead.
The event raised the anger of Islamic Jihad, which promised a response. However, the group has not claimed responsibility for the air attacks in recent hours.
Among those killed in the Israeli operation are six armed men, suspected militants of jihadist groups, and five civilians, including a 72-year-old man. In addition, around a hundred people were injured, detailed the Palestinian health portfolio.
According to statements by the Israel Defense Forces, its military acted after receiving information about the place where members of the ‘Lions’ Den’, a new armed cell based in Nablus, were hiding.
It is one of the bloodiest operations in the last year of fighting in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, raising the likelihood of more bloodshed.
At least 62 Palestinians have died so far in 2023according to the most recent update of fatalities from the Ministry of Health of those territories.
Meanwhile, street attacks on Israeli citizens by Palestinians leave 11 dead, including two children.
The UN advocates a de-escalation of the confrontations
In the midst of this scenario, the UN envoy for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, arrived in Gaza to meet with Hamas leaders in an attempt to calm tensions.
“I continue my engagement with all stakeholders to de-escalate the situation. I urge you to refrain from taking any action that could further inflame an already volatile situation,” Wennesland said in a statement prior to his arrival.
However, a Palestinian official said that both Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders warned mediators, including Egypt, that the situation could turn into an “open confrontation” if there is no change.
The new outbreak of violence comes just in the first weeks of the new Administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the most far-right government in the country’s history that has vowed to take an even tougher line against the Muslim-majority people, including increasing Jewish settlements on sites Palestinians claim as their own.
A questioned long-standing Israeli policy and a flagrant violation of International Law, as described by the United Nations Organization.
In addition, these constructions classified as illegal constitute a major obstacle to eventual peace talks between the parties.
With Reuters and AP
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