Many Fear Escalation as Gaza Terrorists Assault Israel With More Rockets

Emily Jones
03-27-2019

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JERUSALEM, Israel - Israel pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip Tuesday night after another round of rockets was sent flying towards Israel.

Air-raid sirens broke the tense calm in Israel's southern cities around 9 p.m. when Gaza militants fired a rocket at the Eshkol Regional Council. Israel's air force responded by sending retaliatory air strikes into Gaza.

The militants then sent more rockets into Israel's southern city of Ashkelon. No injuries were reported in any of the rocket attacks.

Gaza's terror factions, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, denied responsibility for the rocket barrage and blamed it on "rogue elements" in the strip.

However, Israel holds Hamas responsible.

"The Hamas terror organization bears responsibility for everything in and around the Gaza Strip," the army said. "The IDF is determined to continue protecting the Israeli citizens and is prepared for a variety of scenarios."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cut short a visit to the United States Monday to deal with Israel's tense security situation. On Monday, Hamas blew up a family home and launched dozens of rockets at Israeli citizens Monday night. Israel responded by launching counter-strikes by air on the Gaza Strip.

Many are concerned there will be an escalation of violence on the Gaza border this week as Hamas marks the one-year anniversary of the March of Return protests, which began March 30, 2018.

The terror group hopes to draw hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the border to riot and try to breach the security fence.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov urged the United Nations Security Council Wednesday to condemn Hamas' provocations in Gaza.  

“A new conflict will be devastating for the Palestinian people, it will have consequences for Israelis, who live in the vicinity of the Gaza perimeter, and it is likely to have regional repercussions. This is why I ask you all today to join the United Nations in condemning the continued indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas towards Israel. Such acts of provocation only dramatically increase the risk of escalation and ultimately damage our collective efforts to support the people of Gaza and intra-Palestinian reconciliation. We must also call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint as the situation remains extremely tense.”

Netanyahu warned Hamas Tuesday that Israel is ready to respond with force to Hamas' violence. 

"We are prepared to do a lot more. We will do what is necessary to defend our people and to defend our state," he said.

 

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About The Author

Emily
Jones

Emily Jones is a multi-media journalist for CBN News in Jerusalem. Before she moved to the Middle East in 2019, she spent years regularly traveling to the region to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, meet with government officials, and raise awareness about Christian persecution. During her college years, Emily served as president of Regent University's Christians United for Israel chapter and spoke alongside world leaders at numerous conferences and events. She is an active member of the Philos Project, an organization that seeks to promote positive Christian engagement with the Middle
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