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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Asharq Al-Awsat

Israel Strikes ‘Hamas’ Targets over Burning Kites

Palestinian protesters prepare incendiary kites to be flown towards Israel on June 8, 2018 during a demonstration along the Israel-Gaza border fence east of Jabalia in the central Gaza Strip. Mohammed ABED / AFP

Israeli jets struck nine targets belonging to “Hamas” group in the northern Gaza Strip early on Monday in response to incendiary kites and balloons Palestinians sent from the territory, the Israeli military said.

The attacks targeted two Hamas military sites and a munitions manufacturing site, the military said in a statement, without specifying whether the raids had resulted in casualties.

Sirens also sounded in Israeli areas near the Gaza Strip at daybreak and the army said three rockets had been launched towards Israeli territory but one fell short in the Gaza Strip.

No casualties were reported from the rockets or air strikes.

"Fire balloons" and kites carrying flammable material have become symbols of the Palestinian border protests in recent months.

According to Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, 400 kites have been intercepted from some 600 launched since the start of the recent protests.

At least 125 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops during weekly mass demonstrations along the Gaza border since March 30 and the men sending the kites over the fence believe they have found an effective new weapon.

Israel's deadly tactics in confronting the weekly Friday protests have drawn international condemnation.

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