Police Shot: Israel Launches Air Strike On Hamas Bases In Gaza Strip, Sends Troops To Border

Illustration of an Israeli air strike. (Wikimedia Commons/Natan Flayer)

JAKARTA - Israeli military aircraft (IDF) carried out airstrikes against Hamas sites in Gaza, Palestine late Saturday, the military said, escalating hostilities after a cross-border fire seriously injured an Israeli soldier and injured 41 Palestinians, including two critically.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered near the heavily fortified border in the Gaza Strip, where some tried to climb over the border fence and others threw explosives at Israeli troops, the Israeli military said.

"IDF (Israeli military) forces responded by means of dispersal of the riots, including if necessary direct fire," he said in a statement.

Among the two Palestinians who were seriously injured was a 13-year-old boy who was shot in the head, Gaza's health ministry said. It described most of the other injuries as moderate, including gunshots to the limbs, back, and abdomen.

Cross-border fire from Gaza seriously injured an Israeli border police soldier, who was in hospital receiving medical treatment, the military said. There was no claim of responsibility for the gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

In response to the soldier's shooting, Israeli fighter jets have struck four Hamas bases that serve as weapons storage areas and factories, the IDF said. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Anticipating further attacks or riots, the IDF sent additional troops to the Gaza border area. Israeli media reported the military had stepped up the deployment of the Iron Dome anti-missile system.

The violence followed Israel's announcement of the resumption of Qatari aid to Gaza, a move seen as strengthening an Egypt-mediated truce for the May fighting.

Just days before the announcement, Gaza militants launched rockets at Israel that were shot down by Iron Dome, in the first attack since the ceasefire. Read more

Palestinians have also sporadically launched flaming balloons at Israel since the fighting, triggering Israeli attacks on Hamas sites.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Saturday's airstrikes show Israel is trying to cover up its failures and disappointments in front of the steadfastness of our people and their valiant resistance.

To note, at least 250 Palestinians and 13 in Israel were killed in the May conflict, in which Gaza insurgents fired rockets at Israeli cities and Israel carried out air strikes across the coastal enclave.

Israel keeps Gaza under a blockade, strictly restricting movement out of the territory which is home to 2 million Palestinians. Egypt also maintains restrictions on the enclave. Both cited threats from Hamas over the restrictions.