Israel conducts deadly retaliatory strikes on Gaza as violence escalates

Source: France 24

May 11, 2021 at 10:10

Israel unleashed new air strikes on Gaza early Tuesday, targeting the homes of Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders as Palestinian armed groups fired dozens of rockets toward Israel. The latest escalation comes after weeks of tensions in contested Jerusalem.

Explosions shook buildings across the besieged Gaza Strip on Tuesday and rocket sirens sent Israelis in many southern towns scurrying for shelter overnight.

Israel's army on Tuesday said it hit 130 "military targets" in Gaza, killing 15 "Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives" in retaliatory strikes

"We have struck 130 military targets belonging mostly to Hamas," the Islamist group that controls the blockaded Gaza strip, Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told reporters.

Hours later, the Islamic Jihad group said two of its top commanders were killed in the Israeli Gaza strikes.

At least 24 people, including nine children, were killed in Gaza overnight, most of them in Israeli strikes, according to Palestinian officials. More than 700 Palestinians were hurt in clashes with Israeli security forces in Jerusalem and across the West Bank in 24 hours, including nearly 500 who were treated at hospitals.

The Israeli military said six Israeli civilians were hurt by rocket fire Tuesday morning.

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