After killing Gaza nurse, Israel conducts air strikes in Gaza

Israel launched air strikes on Gaza last night, in retaliation to Hamas firing rockets in to Israel, according to the Israeli military.

In a statement, the Israeli military stated that at least four projectiles were fired from Gaza at Israel, adding that three were intercepted and one fell short.

Rocket alerts sounded in Israeli towns and villages near the border after dark, sending residents rushing to shelters. None of Gaza’s groups claimed responsibility for the rocket fire.

Residents in Gaza said Israeli aircraft struck at least three sites belonging to Hamas, the group which controls the enclave.

The Israeli military confirmed in a statement it had carried out the air strikes, adding that “the Hamas terror organisation is solely responsible for all events that transpire in the Gaza Strip and emanate from it.”

There were no immediate reports of casualties in any of the incidents.

The air strikes come a day after Razan Al- Najar, a 21-year-old volunteer medic, was shot as she ran toward the Gaza-Israel border fence in a bid to reach a casualty. Thousands attended her funeral in Gaza yesterday.

‘Hit me with your bullets. I am not afraid’ – Israel kills budding Gaza nurse

Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza reached a de facto ceasefire this week after the most intense flare-up of hostilities since a 2014 war, both sides signalling they did not want a wider escalation.

Gazans fired dozens of rockets and mortar bombs at southern Israel throughout Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, to which Israel responded with tank fire and air strikes on more than 50 targets in the small, coastal enclave.

Violence along the Israel-Gaza frontier has surged in recent weeks. At least 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops during mass demonstrations along the Gaza border that began on March 30.

Israel, which has drawn international condemnation for its use of deadly force, says many of those killed were Hamas members and militants trying to launch attacks under cover of the protests. The Palestinians say most of the dead and the thousands wounded were unarmed civilians against whom Israel was using excessive force.

More than two million Palestinians are packed into the narrow coastal enclave. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders, citing security concerns.

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