The IDF struck a number of military sites belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night in response to 20 fires sparked by incendiary balloons earlier in the day.
Fires sparked by incendiary balloons in southern Israel, June 15, 2021 (Credit: Itzik Lugassi/Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund)
“The IDF is prepared for all scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities, in the face of continued terrorist acts from the Gaza Strip,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit in a statement.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians clashed with the IDF along the Gaza border on Tuesday, as tensions rose surrounding a flag march through the Old City of Jerusalem.
#صور مواجهات بين شبان وقوات الاحتلال على السياج الفاصل شرق رفح جنوب قطاع غزة، بالتزامن مع “مسيرة الأعلام” للمستوطنين في القدس المحتلة. pic.twitter.com/Q4JgBzNC09— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) June 15, 2021
On Tuesday evening, Defense Minister Benny Gantz held a situation assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman, IDF Intelligence Directorate head Maj.-Gen. Tamir Heiman, IDF intelligence analysis chief Brig.-Gen. Amit Saar and Defense Ministry Policy and Political-Military Bureau head Zohar Palti.
No further information about the meeting was released in the statement by Gantz’s office.
Despite the lack of rocket fire, Hamas celebrated what it termed a “confirmation” of the deterrence situation after Operation Guardian of the Walls, after Israel changed flight paths and the path of the flag march and intensified the deployment of the Iron Dome due to concerns of rocket fire.
“The courageous stances of the Palestinian resistance, and its decisive decisions that forced the Israeli occupation to change the path of the so-called march of flags away from the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, change the path of civil aviation, and intensify the deployment of the Iron Dome, confirm the achievement of the deterrence equation it imposed in the Battle of Saif al-Quds, and its success in imposing new rules of engagement on the enemy,” said Hamas on Tuesday night.
“The valiant resistance will remain the protective shield for our people, and the behavior of the Israeli occupation on the ground will determine the course and nature of dealing with it,” added Hamas.
While Gantz stressed that he “wasn’t promising” to attack for “every rocket or balloon at 3 a.m.” he added that he would attack when it was “convenient” for Israel.
Last year, officials made similar warnings after waves of explosive balloons were launched toward the Jewish state, but after balloon launches earlier this year, responses by the IDF were not as strong or as frequent as those carried out against the rockets that followed.
The Hamas terrorist movement had called for a “Day of Rage” to confront the long-awaited and controversial flag march on Tuesday, encouraging Palestinians to “mobilize” at al-Aqsa and the Old City of Jerusalem.
“Let next Tuesday be a day of mobilization and a bond towards al-Aqsa Mosque, and a day of anger and defiance of the occupier,” said Hamas in a statement on Sunday. “Show God and your people what you have done in it, and be the best sword for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.”
Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a statement on Tuesday stating that it will respond “with full force to the provocations of the settlers in the Holy City,” ahead of the flag march being held later in the evening.
PIJ called for Palestinians to gather throughout Jerusalem, especially at al-Aqsa Mosque and in areas where the flag march is scheduled to pass.
Despite the threats, the march took place with relatively little violence. Some clashes were reported between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, but they had largely ended by Tuesday evening.
Anna Ahronheim and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
