Israel announced on Sunday that it had attacked a Hamas military compound and the tunnel’s entrance to the Gaza Strip in response to clashes on the border between protesters and Palestinian troops.
The Associated Press reported that protests had been organized for the second week in a row. In a statement, the Israeli army said it launched strikes in response to violent riots and the launching of incendiary balloons.
In response to Hamas terrorists throwing incendiary balloons at Israel and violent riots at the security fence, we just hit:
Hamas military complex
Entrance to the Hamas terrorist tunnelHamas uses these tactics for 1 reason: to terrorize Israeli civilians. We will defend them.
– Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 28, 2021
Hundreds of protesters seeking to ease restrictions on the Gaza-Israel border had burned tires and dropped explosives on the border on Saturday, the Israeli military reported, according to Reuters.
In response, the Israeli military explained that “means of dispersal riots” had been used to disrupt the crowds, which Gaza officials said left six Palestinians injured, Reuters reported. Later the military enclosure and the entrance of the tunnel were attacked.
Multiple wars have been fought between Israel and Hamas, the most recent of which took place in May over eleven days with at least 250 Palestinian casualties. Gaza’s health ministry said 39 women and 67 children had died in the May war, while Hamas acknowledged the deaths of 80 Israelis, the AP said.
A ceasefire was reached in May, although protests have taken place over the past two weeks. Palestinians demand integral component of ceasefire agreement – Qatar aid promised – has not yet been delivered, Reuters reported.