Israel strikes Gaza after rocket fire during US ceremony

Israeli military struck Hamas militant sites in Gaza Strip early Wednesday in response to rocket fire toward Israel previous night that coincided with signing of rmalization agreements between Israel and two Arab countries at White House.

barr against Israel began Tuesday night just as ceremony in Washington was getting underway to formalize new agreements with United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Two Israelis were lightly wounded. rocket fire continued overnight, with sirens sounding across sourn Israel. military said five projectiles landed in open areas with rest intercepted by Israel’s rocket defense system. In response, military said it struck about 10 sites belonging to Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers, including weapons and explosives manufacturing factory, underground infrastructure and a military training compound.

renewed exchange offered a stark reminder that festive events in Washington would likely do little to change Israel’s conflict with Palestinians. In addition to bilateral agreements signed by Israel, UAE and Bahrain, all three signed a document dubbed “Abraham Accords” after patriarch of world’s three major moistic religions.

Palestinians are opposed to agreements with United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, viewing m as a betrayal of ir cause by Arab countries, which agreed to recognize Israel without securing territorial concessions. y vow that agreements, and any ors that may follow, will t undermine ir cause.

Neir President Donald Trump r Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Palestinians in ir remarks at signing ceremony, but both UAE and Bahraini foreign ministers spoke of importance of creating a Palestinian state. Upon his departure back from Washington, Netanyahu said he was t surprised by rocket attack or timing of militants.

“y want to take peace backwards but y won’t succeed,” he said.

“We will strike hard against all those who seek to harm us and reach out a hand in peace to all those whose hand is reached out to peace with us.”

Islamic militant group Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007, when it seized power from internationally-backed Palestinian Authority. Israel and Egypt have imposed a crippling blockade on coastal territory since n. A number of Palestinian militant groups operate in Gaza, but Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks and typically responds to rocket fire with airstrikes on militant targets. re were immediate reports of any injuries in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and several smaller skirmishes since 2007. Egypt and Qatar have brokered an informal cease-fire in recent years in which Hamas has reined in rocket attacks in exchange for ecomic aid and a loosening of blockade, but arrangement has broken down on a number of occasions.

Israelis have warmly embraced agreements with UAE and Bahrain, which are only third and fourth Arab countries after Egypt and Jordan to recognize Israel. City Hall in Tel Aviv was lit up with word “peace” in English, Hebrew and Arabic. In Jerusalem, authorities projected flags of U.S., Israel, UAE and Bahrain on walls of Old City. 

(Im Credits: AP)