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In the very early hours of June 18th, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a series of airstrikes on Gaza, in response to alleged incendiary balloons launched by Hamas toward Israeli territory.
In response to arson balloons launched from Gaza into Israel, we struck military compounds and a rocket launch site belonging to Hamas in Gaza.
The IDF has increased its readiness for various scenarios & will continue to strike Hamas terror targets in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/awnCMTcSD9
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 17, 2021
The sirens that sounded in southern Israel were triggered by incoming fire, not rockets, from Gaza towards Israel.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 17, 2021
It is the second time in as many days strikes have occurred with the region’s cease-fire looking increasingly vulnerable.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the strikes from Gaza City.
“Over the past day, arson balloons were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.
“In response… fighter jets struck military compounds and a rocket launch site belonging to the Hamas terror organization,” the military statement added. “The IDF has increased its readiness for various scenarios & will continue to strike Hamas terror targets in Gaza.”
The IDF also said the Israel’s chief of staff had “held a situational assessment in which he ordered a higher level of preparedness and for the IDF (the Israeli military) to make preparations for a variety of scenarios including a resumption of fighting.”
Hamas, however, dismissed the fresh attacks as a means of Israel’s attempts to cast attention away from its defeat during the war.
“The occupation bombing of resistance sites is simply meant for show, said Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum, calling the strikes an attempt by the Israel “to raise the morale of its soldiers and commanders after it collapsed” in the last confrontation.
He also warned of renewed fighting if Israel “continues to commit idiocies and target our people.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, recently installed as part of new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s cabinet.
“We discussed America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, our bilateral relationship, and the challenges ahead,” Blinken tweeted after the Israeli airstrikes.
Today I spoke with Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, @Yair_Lapid. We discussed America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, our bilateral relationship, and the challenges ahead.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 18, 2021
They also discussed “the need to improve Israeli-Palestinian relations in practical ways,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a separate statement, with no mention of the airstrikes that have taken place over the last two days.
The strikes on two consecutive days on Gaza are the first military actions toward Hamas from the new Israeli government under Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is eager to return to his seat, as he is unwilling to relinquish power. As such, he claims that it is just a matter of time before he is reinstated, as Israel’s security allegedly depends on it.
These flare-ups, strikes and alleged attacks from Gaza territory could potentially be tied to his political games and attempts to remain relevant.
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Blinken: “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security”. This is what is afflicting America and other parts of the Western World and not only , this 5th Column cancer-like slime corroding and corrupting all that is good in a society. Get rid of them once and for all starting with America first!!
BDS