The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to rise. The escalation, which began on 10 May with the launch of the first rockets from Gaza, has generated at least 40 Palestinian and five Israeli victims. A spokesman for the Israeli army said that a “severe blow” was dealt to Hamas, hitting at least 300 military targets in the Gaza Strip. Hamas’ senior military commanders were killed in a joint operation by the Israeli army and Shin Bet, as confirmed by the organization’s military wing. Bassem Issam, the highest-ranking figure who has been killed since 2014 to date, also lost his life. “This is only the beginning,” commented Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, confirming that the operations will continue and that Israel wants to inflict on Hamas “blows they cannot even imagine”.
The third day of escalation. Gantz: We are not ready for a ceasefire
The elimination of Hamas commanders comes on the third day of military escalation. The conflict officially erupted on May 10, when clashes between the Israeli police and the Palestinians on the Temple Mount sparked the reaction of Hamas and the first rocket launches towards Israel.
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From there the tensions only escalated, with military action on both sides. Hamas targeted Israeli cities with a shower of rockets which also tried to hit the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. Islamic Jihad, the second largest Palestinian armed group in the Gaza Strip, has claimed responsibility for the firing of 100 rockets from the Palestinian enclave into Israeli territory. A man and a girl died today in the Israeli city of Lod while they were in a car hit by a rocket fired from the Strip. The young woman died instantly, while the 40-year-old died in hospital, bringing the total death toll on the Israeli front to five.
Israel’s reaction was not long in coming, with the attacks accelerating further compared to the previous 48 hours. The updated toll of Palestinians killed in Gaza in repeated Israeli attacks is 53, including 14 children and minors, and three women. This was announced by the Hamas health ministry. The total number of wounded is at least 320. The Israeli army has hit, among them, several military and intelligence leaders of the Islamic groups in Gaza. Operations will continue as long as necessary and Israel is ready for a “ceasefire”, clarified Defense Minister Benny Gantz.