Israel Airstrikes Hamas Bases in Gaza Strip... "Bomb Balloon Retaliation" (Comprehensive)

First Military Clash One Month After Ceasefire Took Effect on the 21st of Last Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. This marked the first military clash just one month after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine took effect on the 21st of last month.

On the 16th (local time), major foreign media reported that the Israeli Air Force carried out airstrikes on Hamas' military bases in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli military authorities stated that the airstrikes were a response to recent incidents in the Gaza Strip where explosive-laden "bomb balloons" were sent toward Israeli territory, causing fires near the border area.

The Israeli military released a statement saying, "In the ongoing situation of terrorist acts from the Gaza Strip, we are prepared for all scenarios, including the resumption of combat."

A Hamas spokesperson declared in response to Israel's airstrikes, "We will continue our resistance to protect our holy site (Jerusalem)."

The airstrikes occurred immediately after an Israeli right-wing group held a "flag march" the previous day. The flag march is an event commemorating the capture of East Jerusalem, formerly Jordanian territory, following the victory in the 1967 Third Middle East War (also known as the Six-Day War).

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Participants in the event waved national flags and shouted slogans such as "Death to Arabs" and "Jerusalem is ours."

The march through the Old City of Jerusalem carrying Israeli flags is considered a humiliation and provocation from the perspective of Palestinians and the Arab world, who lost East Jerusalem.

Palestinian residents protested against the flag march, and clashes with police suppressing the protests resulted in 33 injuries.

Hamas declared the 15th, the day of the flag march, as a "Day of Rage" and urged Palestinian residents to resist the flag march demonstrations.

Immediately afterward, bomb balloons were sent from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory, and as the balloons exploded, about 20 fires broke out in southern Israel.