IDF tank destroys Hamas position in Gaza after arson balloons launched

Coming after Saturday’s attack, the IDF said in a statement relating to Sundays response, “An IDF tank attacked a military post belonging to the Hamas terror group in the northern Gaza Strip, in response to explosive devices that were thrown (at the security fence) and balloons carrying explosive devices that were launched throughout the evening.”

By i24NEWS

 

Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that a tank attacked a Hamas military post in Gaza in response to arson balloons launched into Israeli territory.

“An IDF tank attacked a military post belonging to the Hamas terror group in the northern Gaza Strip, in response to explosive devices that were thrown (at the security fence) and balloons carrying explosive devices that were launched throughout the evening,” the IDF said in a statement.

A boobytrapped Incendiary toy drone attached to balloon cluster lands on Israel’s side of Gaza’s border. – Photo courtesy: Eshkol Regional Council

IDF carried out airstrikes on Saturday as well, also in response to arson balloons launched at Israel.

Palestinians in Gaza are currently preparing for the one year anniversary of Gaza’s “Great March of Return” next week, which Israel is expecting to turn violent.

The phenomenon of arson balloons was introduced during the weekly protests in Gaza that erupted on March 30 last year, causing great problems for the Israeli army as well as Israel’s border communities.

Large fires on fields adjacent to the Gaza border were set on fire, causing great economic damage to Israeli farmers.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for any violence coming from Gaza. While Israel defends its use of live fire against violent demonstrators at the border, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted on Friday voted in favor of adopting a report that condemns Israel for using “apparent intentional use of unlawful lethal force” against civilian protesters in Gaza.

Israel argues that at least 50 of the 183 Palestinians killed in Gaza’s Great March of Return protests were members of Hamas.

In November, Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, but violence along the border, as well as rockets fired from Gaza caused the Israeli army to strike hundreds of Hamas targets since then.

 

View original i24NEWS publication at:
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/1553458534-idf-tank-fires-at-hamas-position-in-gaza-in-response-to-arson-balloons