Five Palestinians were said killed and 170 injured Friday during riots along the Gaza border fence, the Hamas-run health ministry said, as violence continued despite expectations of quiet along the turbulent frontier. The IDF said helicopters and aircraft hit three Hamas sites during protests.
One of the fatalities, named as Jaber Abu Hemesa, died east of El Bureij, in the central part of the Strip, when a hand grenade he was holding exploded accidentally, witnesses said.
The Hamas ministry said 27-year-old Muhammad al-Nabi was shot in the head during protests near Jabaliya in northern Gaza.
It identified three other fatalities as Nasser Abu Taim, 22, Aish Sha’ath, 23, Ahmed Abu Lebda, 22, and said they were killed in separate incidents near Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The Israeli army did not comment on the deaths but said approximately 16,000 “demonstrators and rioters” were gathered along the border. “The rioters hurled grenades, firebombs and rocks and lit tires on fire,” the IDF said.
“During the events, IDF attack helicopters and IDF aircraft targeted three Hamas military posts in the northern Gaza Strip,” the army said, adding that Palestinians briefly breached the fence in two places.
The protesters took part in the protests in several locations under the banner of “Gaza won’t surrender,” setting fire to tires, throwing rocks and explosives at soldiers near the border and attempting to break down the fence.
The Palestinians continued with their weekly Friday riots along the fence despite Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman saying earlier that he was “hopeful” that the Gaza Strip would be calm over the coming weekend. This was after reports of a ceasefire being brokered by Egypt.
“I am hopeful and I anticipate that this Friday will pass more quietly — that’s what we need to hope for,” the defense minister said.
Liberman made his remarks in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, next to the Gaza border, where he met with the heads of local governments to discuss the current strained security situation in the Strip following weeks of heightened tensions and two major flareups that threatened to lead Israel and the Hamas terror group to war.
Five rocket salvos fired at Israel from Gaza, IDF strikes Strip in response
Five rocket salvos fired at Israel from Gaza, IDF strikes Strip in response
Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired five salvos of rockets into southern Israel late Friday, with the Iron Dome defense system destroying most of the inbound projectiles.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, however, seven people were treated by medics for anxiety attacks. Two people were said lightly hurt while running to bomb shelters.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack. It said the assault was in response to deaths during Friday’s border protests, after five Palestinians were killed during riots.
The Israeli military said the air force had begun striking targets in Gaza in response, though no details were immediately available.
IAF aircraft are now targeting terror facilities in Gaza, after at least 14 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israeli civilians. Iron Dome has so far intercepted 10, saving many lives. Reports of more rockets fired. More to follow.— Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) October 26, 2018
Meanwhile IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot held a security assessment at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv with senior officials from the military and the Shin Bet internal security agency.
Sirens blared in several communities near the Gaza Strip on five separate occasions, sending thousands of Israelis running for bomb shelters.
The army said 16 rockets had been launched at Israeli targets, and the Iron Dome aerial defense system had intercepted 10 projectiles.
A spokesman for the city of Sderot said at least eight rockets were fired at his city with Iron Dome intercepting six of them, while two others fell in an open area.
Residents reported the sounds of several explosions after the sirens went off and video showed interceptors streaming into the air to take down multiple rockets with huge explosions.
The rocket fire comes amid a deadly flareup in violence in the Gaza Strip. Earlier on Friday, thousands of Palestinians gathered at five locations along the border, burning tires and throwing rocks and firebombs at Israeli troops who responded with tear gas and occasional live fire.
Five protesters were killed and another 170 were injured in the clashes with IDF troops, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said.
The ramped up tensions are likely to complicate the mission of Egyptian mediators, who intensified their shuttle diplomacy to achieve calm and prevent a full-blown conflict between Gaza’s Hamas rulers and Israel.
Air sirens sounded in Israeli communities near Gaza, 14 rockets fired
Air sirens were heard in Israeli communities near the Gaza Border on Friday evening.
At least 14 Hamas rockets were fired on Israel, the city of Sderot spoksperson stated, 12 were intercepted by the Iron Dome system and two fell in open spaces. There were no injuries or damage caused but seven Sderot residents suffer from shock, Channel 11 reports.
Following the sirens, medics and MDA paramedics gave medical treatment to seven victims at the site. A 53-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were in very mild condition after being injured on the limbs while running to a bomb shelter.
Palestinian media reported that Hamas began evacuating its based in the Gaza Strip in anticipation of an Israeli response.
"Fire for fire, blood for blood; remember the punishment on Beersheba," the statement read, according to Israeli media.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, threatened Israel in a statement, "Al-Qassam is ready to strike at all of occupied Palestine with thousands of missiles if the campaign begins."
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, threatened Israel in another statement, "We appeal to the Palestinian people and announce to them that if the Zionist enemy attacks us, we will be ready for the battle. There is no place in occupied Palestine that our missiles will not reach. Al-Az, Al-Fajr and Al-Barrak missiles, and what we have not uncovered so far. "
Air sirens sounded in Israeli communities near Gaza, 14 rockets fired
Air sirens were heard in Israeli communities near the Gaza Border on Friday evening.
At least 14 Hamas rockets were fired on Israel, the city of Sderot spoksperson stated, 12 were intercepted by the Iron Dome system and two fell in open spaces. There were no injuries or damage caused but seven Sderot residents suffer from shock, Channel 11 reports.
Following the sirens, medics and MDA paramedics gave medical treatment to seven victims at the site. A 53-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy were in very mild condition after being injured on the limbs while running to a bomb shelter.
Palestinian media reported that Hamas began evacuating its based in the Gaza Strip in anticipation of an Israeli response.
"Fire for fire, blood for blood; remember the punishment on Beersheba," the statement read, according to Israeli media.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, threatened Israel in a statement, "Al-Qassam is ready to strike at all of occupied Palestine with thousands of missiles if the campaign begins."
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, threatened Israel in another statement, "We appeal to the Palestinian people and announce to them that if the Zionist enemy attacks us, we will be ready for the battle. There is no place in occupied Palestine that our missiles will not reach. Al-Az, Al-Fajr and Al-Barrak missiles, and what we have not uncovered so far. "
In Gaza, their headquarters were evacuated in anticipation of another attack by the Air Force. Earlier, IDF combat helicopters and aircraft attacked three Hamas terrorist positions in the northern Gaza Strip.
"The IDF has acted with force against terrorist activity and is determined to defend the residents of Israel and will continue to act in their defense," the IDF Spokesman said.
Earlier on Friday, roughly 16,000 Palestinians protested near the Gaza security fence against IDF soldiers, the IDF spokesperson reported.
Three IAF strikes were carried out during the protests targeting three Hamas positions in the northern Gaza Strip.
Five Palestinians were killed by IDF sniper fire and 85 were injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported.
"The IDF has acted with force against terrorist activity and is determined to defend the residents of Israel and will continue to act in their defense," the IDF Spokesman said.
Earlier on Friday, roughly 16,000 Palestinians protested near the Gaza security fence against IDF soldiers, the IDF spokesperson reported.
Three IAF strikes were carried out during the protests targeting three Hamas positions in the northern Gaza Strip.
Five Palestinians were killed by IDF sniper fire and 85 were injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported.
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