Israeli air raids target Gaza for second time since shaky ceasefire

Palestine, 18 June: Israeli fighter jets have launched a series of air raids on the Gaza Strip for the second time since a shaky ceasefire ended last month’s 11-day war.

Palestinian sources on the ground said Israeli missiles hit several sites belonging to armed groups northwest of Gaza City and north of Beit Lahia in the besieged territory.

A civil administration building east of Jabaliya in the north was also targeted, in addition to an agricultural field east of the southern town of Khan Younis. No casualties were reported.

Following the air attacks, Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman for Hamas, the group running the Strip, said in a statement that the occupation’s bombing of the resistance sites is a demonstrative show by the new Israeli government”, referring to the administration that was approved on Sunday by Israel’s parliament, with right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennett sworn in as prime minister.

Read more: Israel launches air strikes on Gaza Strip

On 16 June, Israel launched air strikes against Hamas targeted in the Gaza Strip, in retaliation for incendiary balloons fired from the territory.

Several balloons were sent from Gaza into Israel earlier on Tuesday causing multiple fires, according to the Israeli fire service.Explosions were heard in Gaza City in the early hours of Wednesday.