By Israel has carried out up to 50 air strikes in retaliation after a rocket was fired from Gaza this week. The rocket, landing in the Israeli town of Sderot, was not reported to have caused any damage or injuries but managed to disrupt a music festival as people ran for shelter.
As a result of the subsequent air strikes, several Palestinian people, including a 17-year-old boy, were injured. Reports suggest that the Israeli attack also caused damage to a key water storage facility in the town of Beit Hanoun.
Although not confirmed, a small armed cell with links to Daesh have claimed responsibility for the rocket fired from Gaza. Hamas have denied any knowledge or involvement having maintained a de facto ceasefire with Israel since the last war in 2014.
The bombardment has sparked a new diplomatic row between Israel and Turkey as the Turkish foreign ministry calling the Israeli strikes “disproportionate.”
The attack comes just after the results of an Israeli-Palestinian public opinion poll have been published showing a slim majority (51% of Palestinians; 59% of Israelis) support a two-state solution to the conflict.
The bombardment has sparked a new diplomatic row between Israel and Turkey as the Turkish foreign ministry calling the Israeli strikes “disproportionate.”
Israel responded a few hours afterwards, calling Turkey’s condemnation “baseless”, while vowing to defend its citizens.
It is unclear why Israel retaliated to this degree, which many have described as “overkill.” The Palestinians, along with the rest of the world in solidarity, await their aggressive occupier’s next move.