Israel Strikes Gaza Targets After Hamas Balloon Attacks

The Israeli Air Force hit Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning after Palestinians in the strip launched incendiary balloons into Israel. This was the first exchange of fire since a fragile Egyptian-mediated cease-fire came into effect on May 21, ending 11 days of violence between the two sides, and the first since a new Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, entered office. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas compounds in Gaza City and Khan Yunis overnight in response to the cross-border balloon attacks, which started around 25 fires in southern Israel. Israel said it was prepared for all scenarios, including the “resumption of hostilities.” No casualties were reported on either side. The violence follows a controversial march through Jerusalem by around 5,000 flag-bearing right-wing nationalist Israelis, some of them chanting racist slogans, on Tuesday, which the Palestinian government said was a provocation. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a tweet that marchers shouting slogans such as “Death to Arabs” were “a disgrace to the nation of Israel.”