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Israel And Hamas Escalate Fighting Across TheBorder
Gaza militants sent dozens of rockets into Israel on Wednesdayas Israeli airstrikes killed four Palestinian fighters, in a dangerousescalation of cross-border fighting that began just hours afterthe end of a landmark visit to the coastal enclave by the emir ofQatar.
The outbreak, which marks the worst hostilities in four months, prompted Egyptian intelligenceofficials to press Israel, Hamas and Gaza militant groups to cease fire.
A Hamas official said a cease-fire was scheduled to go into effect at midnight Thursday, and thatQatar had complained that the Gaza rocket fire erupted so close to the visit.
Both sides want to avoid a larger flare-up that could draw Israeli troops into Gaza, like Israel's briefincursion into the territory four years ago that killed more than 1,000 Gazans, 13 Israelis and leftbillions of dollars of damaged infrastructure. But Israel suggested a willingness for a more extensivefight if pushed.
The fighting raises questions about whether Qatar's new patronage for Hamas -- including $400 million worth of building projects -- will embolden Gaza's Islamic militant rulers to take a moreaggressive stance toward Israel or a more conciliatory one by giving them a greater material stakein stability.
Gaza's Islamist militant rulers gave a hero's welcome to Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the firstforeign head of state to visit the enclave since Hamas's 2007 takeover, declaring an end to yearsof economic and political isolation by the West and Israel.
The emir's Gaza visit followed two weeks of increased fighting between Hamas and Israel, thoughboth sides held their fire for the foreign visitor. Shortly after he left Gaza, militants unleashedrockets. An Israeli officer was seriously wounded on the border on Monday and several migrantworkers were injured in Wednesday's attacks.
The Israel Defense Forces said some 75 rockets and mortars hit Israel on Wednesday, roughly thetotal fired from Gaza during the three prior months combined. The army said its aircraft targetedfour rocket launch squads and a weapons-smuggling tunnel late Tuesday and early Wednesday. Avital Leibovitch, an Israeli army spokeswoman, said a Hamas-affiliated militia sent most of therocket fire.
The hostilities prompted Israeli officials to close schools in the region near Gaza and request civiliansin some areas to take cover in bomb shelters. Until recently, Israel and Hamas have observed arelative calm that has allowed residents in the region go about their lives. But every several monthsthere is a flare-up, most recently in June.
Hamas accused Israel of escalating the hostilities out of frustration over the visit of the Qatari emir.
Israeli officials declined to respond to the accusation.
The hostilities came as U.S. and Israel began an extensive drill to simulate a joint defense against amassive missile attack.
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发表于 2016-7-11 16:56:01