JERUSALEM/GAZA—Israeli aircraft struck Hamas sites in Gaza early on Sunday in response to incendiary balloons launched from the Palestinian enclave, the military said, as a recent rise in cross-border violence tests a fragile truce that ended fierce fighting in May.
Sanctioned by Hamas, the Islamist terrorist group that rules Gaza, Palestinian groups said on Saturday they were resuming protests at the Israel-Gaza border, aimed at pressing Israel to ease restrictions on the enclave. The Israeli military said hundreds of Palestinians gathered along the frontier during the night, hurling explosives and burning tyres.
The military said its troops responded with “riot dispersal means” and Gaza medics said at least six Palestinians were hurt, one seriously. A few hours later, Israeli pre-dawn air strikes targeted a Hamas weapons manufacturing complex and a tunnel it said was used by Hamas terrorists, after incendiary balloons were sent across the border.
There were no reports of casualties in the bombings.
An Egyptian-mediated truce ended the May conflict in which terrorists in Gaza fired rockets towards Israeli cities and Israel carried out defensive air strikes on Hamas targets in the coastal enclave. At least 250 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel were killed in 11 days of fighting.
Israeli announced this month that it was allowing the resumption of Qatari aid to Gaza, a decision that had been seen as bolstering the truce. However, increasing attacks by Hamas recently have triggered retaliation from Israel.
Citing security threats, Israel and Egypt maintain Gaza restrictions.
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