Israeli occupation warplanes pounded the Gaza Strip yesterday and today after a rocket fired from the Palestinian territory hit an occupied city, in a blow to efforts to avert a new war.
Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas disavowed the rocket-fire, saying they rejected “all irresponsible attempts” to undermine Egyptian efforts to broker a new long-term truce.
But Israeli occupation, which holds Hamas responsible for all rocket-fire from the territory regardless of who launches it, struck 20 targets in Gaza, killing one Palestinian, according to the health ministry of Gaza. Israeli occupation also closed both its border crossings with Gaza in reprisal, further isolating the blockaded enclave where deteriorating living conditions have stoked a protests along the border.
Gaza militants fired two rockets before dawn, one of which caused damage to the garden of a family home in the southern city of Beersheba, 40km away, and the Israeli occupation army said.
The other rocket came down in the sea off Tel Aviv, 70km from Gaza, the Israeli occupation army said.
One Palestinian, was killed in northern Gaza. The Gaza health ministry identified him as Naji al-Za’aneen, 25.