The Israeli army announced that its fighters bombed what it described as underground structures belonging to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the southern Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, the occupation forces stormed some neighborhoods at dawn today, Wednesday, and arrested a number of citizens, including two deputies in the Legislative Council.
An Israeli army statement stated that the bombing came in response to the continued launching of what it described as incendiary balloons from inside the Gaza Strip towards Israeli areas. But he did not indicate any damages or losses.
Hamas is trying to pressure Israel to ease restrictions imposed on Gaza and allow more investment, partly by allowing the Palestinians to launch helium balloons loaded with incendiary materials, which led to the burning of swathes of agricultural land in southern Israel in recent weeks.
Almost every night, during the past two weeks, the occupation bombed Hamas installations, saying it would not tolerate balloons.
In anticipation of Israeli attacks after launching balloons or rockets, Hamas routinely evacuates people from its positions.
In light of the escalating tension, the occupation closed the only commercial crossing with Gaza, banned access to the sea, and stopped fuel imports to the coastal strip, which led to the closure of the only power station there last week.
Gaza health officials have expressed concern that the closure of the power plant may exacerbate the outbreak of the Corona virus in Gaza, which is home to two million Palestinians.
The West Bank and
in the West Bank, Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that the occupation forces stormed some western neighborhoods in Ramallah and neighboring villages, at dawn today, Wednesday, and arrested a number of citizens.
Among the detainees were a number of freed prisoners, university students and a journalist, in addition to Ahmed Atoun and Abdel Jaber, the jurists, representatives in the Legislative Council for Hamas.
The occupation forces stormed the neighborhoods of Al-Tira and Ain Munjid, west of Ramallah, and the towns of Bir Zeit and Al-Mazraa Al-Gharbia, north of the city. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire during the operation, which included the arrest of at least 9 Palestinian citizens.