’Israel’ Launches New Military Offensive on Seized Gaza

Local Editor

"Israel" launched an aerial offensive on the seized Gaza Strip on Tuesday, leaving at least 12 people injured, security officials said.

"Israel" bombed more than 30 targets in little more than an hour before dawn, including homes in southern seized Gaza.

Several houses were targeted in the raids on the southern seized Gaza Strip, notably in Khan Yunes, witnesses said.

At least nine Palestinian civilians were brought to a Gaza hospital from the airstrikes, including several who suffered from shock, Gaza health official Ashraf Al-Kedra said.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, warned that "Israel" had "crossed a red line by attacking houses."

In a response to the "Israeli" offensive, the group said in a statement: "If this policy does not stop we will respond by enlarging the radius of our targets to the point where the enemy will be surprised."

An "Israeli" army spokesman confirmed an air operation code-named "Operation Protective Edge" had been launched, but did not give details.

On Monday, "Israeli" warplanes hit more than 30 targets near the southern seized Gaza city of Rafah, Palestinian witnesses and security sources told AFP.

Meanwhile, "Israel's" Channel 1 television said the attacks came after the security cabinet gave the military a green light to "toughen the response to Hamas."

The channel also showed footage of dozens of tanks massing near the border with seized Gaza, preparing for a possible offensive against the enclave.

Responding to the "Israeli" attack on Monday, Hamas responded with rocket fire several hours after "Israel" staged around 16 air strikes on targets across seized Gaza, following a night in which warplanes attacked 14 targets, killing at least three.

Sources: News Agencies, Edited by website team