IDF strikes incendiary balloons squad
IAF aircraft attacks terrorist cell a responsible for launching incendiary balloons from the southern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory; Earlier Saturday fires broke out in Kissufim, Beeri, and Shokeda Forests located in the Gaza region; No injuries were reported.
An IAF aircraft attacked Saturday a terrorist cell responsible for launching incendiary balloons from the southern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.
This is not the first time the army attacks incendiary balloons squads in Gaza, several such operations have recently been completed.
Earlier on Saturday, fires broke out in Kissufim, Beeri, and Shokeda Forests located in the Gaza region. Firefighting teams and Jewish National Fund (JNF) employees operated on the ground. No injuries were reported.
On Friday, Israeli defense officials said that the clashes on the Gaza Strip border Friday were the calmest since the 'March of Return' campaign began seven months ago, and that Hamas has been able to rein in the violence.
Defense officials estimated that Hamas has deployed armed men near the fence, who have taken care to calm the area and prevent violent incidents.
In addition, Lebanese TV network Al Mayadeen reported that IDF also sent text messages to Gaza residents, warning them not to come to the border.
However, the sources added that the IDF's policy has not changed, and therefore the events of the violence are explained mainly by the restraint imposed by Hamas.
Hamas said Friday that "the persistence of the people in Gaza and the mass participation in the 30th week to the 'March of Return' to break the blockade is the biggest response to the threats of the Israeli enemy, as it serves as a great incentive for our people. Hamas official Ismail Radwan added that "no element has asked us to stop the protests. Even the Egyptians stressed it is our right to protest."
The Security Cabinet—which convened Thursday following a rocket attack launched from Gaza on a Be'er Sheva home and in the sea off the shores of a city in central Israel—instructed the IDF to gradually exacerbate its retaliatory actions to violence along the security fence and to demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach.
Nevertheless, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested implementing a more aggressive approach against Hamas, as could have been expected in light of his remarks over the past few days.
Lieberman's plan was rejected.
