Israel Launches Air Strikes Against Gaza, Targets Hamas-Owned Buildings

JAKARTA - The Israeli military (IDF) resumed airstrikes on the Palestinian territory of Gaza for the second time this week, after a series of arson balloons sparked eight fires in southern Israel.

Rocket warning sirens blared in the Israeli community of Kfar Aza near the Gaza border following an Israeli strike after midnight Thursday. However, the IDF said it was triggered by a non-rocket fire from Gaza at Israel.

The Ynet news site reported that the sirens were allegedly triggered by machine-gun fire from the Gaza Strip aimed at Israeli aircraft.

"The Israeli military launched airstrikes against Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening in response to the ongoing arson attacks from the enclave," the IDF said in a statement as quoted from Times of Israel, Friday, June 18.

At least eight fires were set off in southern Israel on Thursday, and four days earlier, by incendiary balloon devices launched from the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Fire and Rescue Service.

According to Palestinian media, an Israeli airstrike targeted a Hamas-controlled building in the Gaza city of Beit Lahiya. Additional strikes reportedly hit a six-story Hamas-run civilian government building in northern Gaza, a Hamas base near Khan Younis, a site near Gaza City, and agricultural fields suspected of housing underground rocket launchers in southern Gaza. There were no immediate reports of Palestinian injuries.

The IDF confirmed carrying out the attack, saying targets included a launch pad near Khan Younis and various other Hamas military sites in the Gaza Strip.

"The attack was carried out in response to the continued launch of incendiary balloons on Israeli territory," the IDF said in a statement.

The attack was much bigger and more powerful than the one launched earlier this week in retaliation for a similar aerial arson attack from the Gaza Strip.

The attack was also meant to be a threat to Hamas over Israel's willingness to carry out further attacks if the attacks continued.

"Earlier this evening, the chief of staff held a situational assessment in which he ordered a higher level of preparedness for the IDF, to make preparations for various scenarios including the resumption of fighting in response to continued terrorist activities from the Gaza Strip," the IDF said.

The IDF underlined that Hamas is responsible for all violence that comes from the Gaza Strip, for that the IDF will continue to destroy the group's capabilities and infrastructure.

Hamas rejects Israel's accusations and calls it a charade. Hamas has also warned of the possibility of new fighting if Israel continues to carry out attacks on Gaza.

"The occupation bombing of resistance sites is only meant for show, as an attempt by the new government to boost the morale of its soldiers and commanders which collapsed in the last round of fighting," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum.

Hamas insisted the balloon 'attack' was a legitimate popular act against Israel and should not be considered a violation of the ceasefire. But Israel rejects the claim, aiming to force Hamas to reconsider the value of its balloon attacks.

Citing CNN, an incendiary balloon is a relatively simple device, a helium balloon that often looks like a children's birthday party decoration, mounted on an explosive or a device that is pre-ignited by fire. Balloons launched from Gaza, Palestine and winds from the Mediterranean Sea helped propel them into Israeli territory.

"The occupation will not be able to impose any equality, and what the occupation was unable to achieve in its recent aggression, will not be achieved by intimidating our people and bombing vacant land," said Hamas spokesman Abd Al-Lateef Qanoua.