loading…
Saturday marked the first full day of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
Hundreds of Hamas fighters wearing military camouflage masks marched past the funeral tent for Bassem Issa, a senior commander who died in the fighting.
Hamas’ supreme leader in Gaza, Yehiyeh Sinwar, paid his respects in his first public appearance since the war began AP, Sunday (23/5/2021).
Also read: Rouhani: Gaza’s Strong Response To The Zionists Is A Great Victory
Israel bombed Sinwar’s home, along with other senior Hamas figures, as part of its attack on what it said was the group’s military infrastructure. Israel’s defense minister, Benny Gantz, said Israel had dealt a punishing blow to Hamas, and that key Hamas figures remained targeted.
Fighting began on May 10, when Hamas militants in Gaza fired long-range rockets towards Jerusalem. The series of rocket attacks came after days of clashes between protesters Palestine and Israeli police at the compound Masjid Al-Aqsa . Israeli police tactics at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and threats of eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers have fueled tensions.
In the fighting, Israel launched hundreds of air strikes against militant targets in Gaza, while Hamas and other militants fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel.
Israel says it is targeting Hamas military infrastructure, including an extensive tunnel system that runs under roads and houses, as well as command centers, rocket launchers and the homes of Hamas commanders. The Israeli military said it was trying to minimize the harm to civilians and accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
Also read: Destroying the Palestinian ‘Human Shield’ Myth in Gaza
The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 248 Palestinians were killed, including 66 children and 39 women, with 1,910 injured. It does not differentiate between fighters and civilians. Twelve people died in Israel, all but one of them civilians, including a 5-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.
Israel accuses Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group of hiding the true number of fighters killed in the war. Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Friday that more than 200 militants were killed, including 25 senior commanders.
Islamic Jihad on Saturday gave the first report of deaths in its ranks, saying that 19 of its commanders and fighters were killed, including the head of a rocket unit in northern Gaza.
Also read: Israel and Hamas Ceasefire, This is the Meaning of Ceasefire
(ian)
– .
