Israel Is Bombarded With Incendiary Balloons, IDF Launches Airstrikes On Hamas Military Bases In Gaza

Illustration of the impact of Israeli air strikes. (Wikimedia Commons/tomer.gabel)

JAKARTA - The Israeli military (IDF) carried out airstrikes against the Gaza Strip, following incendiary balloon attacks that were launched on their territory, an IDF Spokesman said Sunday evening.

The spokesman said the attack was carried out by Israeli Air Force fighter jets against a military base belonging to Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip, which consists of several buildings and is located in a civilian area, close to a school.

In a statement, the IDF confirmed that the airstrike was in retaliation for an incendiary balloon launched on Sunday, causing a fire at the Eshkol Regional Council, citing The Jerusalem Post, Monday, July 26.

The launching of incendiary balloons from the Gaza area, followed by the narrowing of fishing areas in Gaza, Palestine This was carried out by the Coordinator of Government Operations in the Territories (COGAT) Major General. Ghassan Alian. In his announcement on Sunday, he said, limiting the fishing zone in the Gaza Strip from 12 to 6 nautical miles.

The decision will take effect immediately and will continue until further notice. Prior to Operation Wall Guard, Gaza's fishing zone was 15 nautical miles.

The decision to limit Gaza's fishing grounds comes after a new launch of incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory, after three weeks of relative calm.

The decision comes just 12 days after Gaza's fishing zone was expanded from 9 to 12 nautical miles due to the relative calm seen in recent weeks.

In a statement, COGAT said, "The terrorist organization Hamas bears responsibility for everything that is done inside and outside the Gaza Strip against the State of Israel, and it will bear the consequences of the violence perpetrated against the citizens of that country."

Earlier on Sunday, three fires were extinguished at the Eshkol Regional Council, near the Gaza border. Israeli fire investigators said all three were caused by incendiary balloons.