Israel attacks Gaza for the second time since the cease-fire
The ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Strip has lasted barely three weeks. The ceasefire that came into effect on 21 May, after 11 intense days of fighting, is at its most fragile. Although technically there is still a ceasefire between the two sides, Israeli aircraft have attacked the enclave for the second time since the ceasefire came into effect.
Tuesday's March of Flags has provoked a wave of indignation among the Gazan population. The parade commemorates the occupation of East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers during the Six Day War, which the Arab population of Jerusalem sees as a "provocation". Hamas, the de facto government in Gaza, has already warned that it would respond if the march took place, but it is not the Resistance Movement but supporters of the group who have responded against the call for the March of Flags.
The demonstration, called by thousands of Jewish extremists, has been postponed three times. The first time as a result of rocket fire from Gaza following the Israeli police raid on the Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site. In addition, Benjamin Netanyahu, now a former prime minister, decided to postpone the march again to coincide with the start of the new coalition government, led by the ultra-nationalist Naftali Bennet. Netanyahu already foresaw that the gathering of thousands of radical Jews would be a first hurdle for a heterogeneous government that has promised a different relationship with the country's Arab minority, which accounts for 20 per cent of the population.
Despite the fact that the usual route of the March of Flags has been modified this year so that it does not pass through the Muslim Quarter to avoid clashes, this was unavoidable. Hostility between Arabs and Jews was once again evident during the demonstration, which resulted in the arrest of 17 Palestinians and 33 others were injured by Israeli security forces, according to the Red Crescent. In addition, an Israeli police spokesman said that two officers were injured during the clashes, in which Palestinian youths threw stones at police officers.
Gazans also showed solidarity with Israel's Arab population, and in response to the demonstration by ultra-nationalist Jews, Hamas sympathisers launched dozens of incendiary balloons into Israel, causing around 20 fires in open fields in communities near the border. The Israeli army, for its part, responded by launching several air strikes on the enclave targeting Hamas facilities.
Despite Israeli attacks, Resistance Movement supporters have continued to launch incendiary balloons from Gaza into Israeli territory, setting eight new fires, bringing the total number to 30 since Hamas supporters began launching incendiary balloons on Tuesday. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), for the second time since the ceasefire began, have ordered an attack on Gaza in response to the launching of these devices.
On this occasion, Israeli aircraft launched three missiles at a site near the Sheikh Zayed residential towers northeast of Beit Lahia in the north of the strip. In addition to a civil administration building east of Jabaliya in the north. An agricultural field east of the southern city of Khan Younis was also hit, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Most of the attacks targeted facilities belonging to armed groups and no casualties have been reported.
Following the air strikes, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a statement that "the occupation's bombardment of resistance sites is a show of the new Israeli government". Hamas also warned that if Israel "commits any stupidity" against the people of Gaza or members of the movement, there will be an armed response.
Sirens have been sounded again in Israeli communities near the Gaza border, following the Israeli airstrike on the enclave. Although the IDF did not identify any rocket fire, the Israeli army has reported that it was a false alarm, probably caused by heavy firing by Palestinian militants at Israeli aircraft.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on 21 May and ended 11 intense days of attacks, is inching closer to breaking down. The latest outbreak of violence resulted in the deaths of at least 257 Palestinians, including 66 children. On the Israeli side, 13 people, including two children, were killed by rockets fired from Gaza. Negotiations between Hamas and Israel, mediated largely by Egypt, are at an impasse. Egypt wants to make the talks conditional on a prisoner exchange. Israel also continues to deny the transfer of money from Qatar to the strip, a fact that has caused frustration within the Resistance Movement.
Israel refuses to allow money into Gaza until the terrorist group releases two civilians and two bodies of Israel Defense Forces soldiers held captive by Hamas. Egypt has also opposed the resumption of Qatari payments, insisting that a new mechanism be used to transfer them to Gaza so that they do not reach Hamas. The next few days will be decisive in determining whether the fragile ceasefire holds or whether it will otherwise crumble.