After Hamas orchestrated the “peaceful protest” that the world bought into, the Israeli military wasn’t waiting around for the next one. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), struck at a tunnel as well as two boats that the Palestinians were using to block the blockade.
Palestinian media reported that a training compound belonging to Hamas’ military wing and two boats in the Gaza seaport were targeted in the strike. According to Palestinian reports, the targeted boats were due to depart from the port in an attempt to break the naval blockade on the Strip.
Local residents reported hearing three explosions at the port. A fire broke out at the scene, which rescue forces were working to extinguish.
There were no casualties in the incident, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The strikes were in response to Tuesday’s events when a group of about ten Palestinian approached the border fence near Rafah, according to the Israeli army. Despite the army’s high alert, the group managed to cut through the fence and reach an outpost set up for Israeli snipers due to recent border protests.
The outpost was empty at the time and the Palestinian managed to set it on fire. Afterward they returned to Gaza. The army claims they were aware of the event as it was happening, however, it is unclear why the army would permit them to cross and damage the outpost.
An Israeli army tank fired Tuesday on a Hamas outpost in response to the incident.
This is not the first time Palestinians manage to infiltrate into Israel. In one incident at the end of March, three Palestinians armed with grenades and knives entered Israel and were arrested more than 12 miles inside Israeli territory, near the Tze’elim army base in the south. Days earlier, four Palestinians had illegally crossed the border trying to set fire to military vehicles.
On Tuesday night Israeli security forces arrested four Palestinians suspected of terrorist activities and violent rioting against citizens and security personnel in the West Bank town of Rantis.
They also confiscated funds used to support terrorist operations and seized several weapons.
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