Israel war planes STRIKE Gaza City as confrontation with Palestine ESCALATES
ISRAELI war planes have carried out strikes on Gaza City, in a sign of escalating violence between Israel and Palestine, it has been reported.
EPA
The strikes follow an Israeli raid targeting a military post east of Jabalia in northern Gaza just minutes prior.
Israeli war planes also targeted a site inside the fishermen’s port, west of Gaza City.
One Gaza resident, Mohammed Abu Assi, said on Twitter: “Israeli aircrafts are bombing several locations in Gaza, also the rockets were targeted mainly at Gaza sea port.”
Amjad Salah added: “Continuous explosions west of Gaza City shake the sky and flames in different areas.
“A very heavy flight of Israeli warplanes.”
TWITTER/EPA
IAF aircraft struck underground Hamas terror infrastructure in northern Gaza, as well as 2 additional military targets that belong to the terror organisation's naval for
Another social media user named Ali wrote: “The Israeli bombardment of Gaza an hour and a half ago is cowardly and the children are asleep.
“Targeting fishing boats at the Gaza port and another site in northern Gaza.”
However, Israel has defended their actions and insisted they were merely protecting their citizens from “terrorists”.
An Israel Defence Force spokesperson said: “A short while ago, IAF aircraft struck underground Hamas terror infrastructure in northern Gaza, as well as 2 additional military targets that belong to the terror organisation's naval force.
“The strikes were in response to the event that took place yesterday morning, when a number of terrorists infiltrated Israel and set a military post on fire.
“Additionally, the strikes were carried out in response to the ongoing attempts to dispatch drones and kites, with the intention of conducting terrorist activity and setting Israeli territory on fire.
“The IDF views these continued attempts with great severity, specifically Hamas’ daily attempts to damage Israeli security infrastructure & threats to the safety of Israeli civilians.
“The IDF is determined to fulfill its mission to protect Israeli civilians.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has condemned the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza and held an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Turkish capital on Friday.
The Turkish leader has since called for a boycott against certain Israeli products.
Hurriyet newspaper reported President Erdogan saying: "I hope that OIC member countries implement a boycott decision in line with the recommendation.
“Consequently, no product should be brought from there any more.
“Naturally we will assess this situation in the same way.”
The Israeli military said its attacks were carried out in response to Palestinians who sneaked across the border and destroyed an Israeli sniper nest.
Palestinians also reported that at least two fishing boats were destroyed in the attack on the port, and part of the facility was on fire.