Palestinians protest near Israel-Gaza border

Israeli warplanes bombed two sites belonging to the military wing of Hamas.

No casualties were reported in the morning strikes that came in response to the firing hours earlier of six rockets from Gaza toward Israeli towns, according to an Israel army statement.

The rockets targeting the cities of Ashkelon and Sderot were intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome air defence missile system. No Palestinian faction has yet claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.

Tensions had increased in Gaza after Wednesday’s killing of at least 11 Palestinians in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

The Ministry of Education announced the closure of schools as a strike continued in parts of Gaza. Banks operating in Palestine shut in mourning for the Palestinian deaths.

In some border areas, groups of young men demonstrated and set fire to tires in protest against a second day of Israeli operations in Nablus.

Gaza has witnessed four wars since Hamas took control of the area in mid-2007 and endless flare-ups, the last being in the summer of 2022.

UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said he was continuing his engagement with all concerned parties in a bid to de-escalate the situation.

In a statement, he said: “I urge all sides to refrain from steps that could further inflame an already volatile situation.”

Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades military wing said patience with Israel was running out.