Israeli airstrikes killed five Palestinians
in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, while Hamas responded with rocket fire into
southern Israel. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas militants who were
planning to launch attacks on Israel. Hamas said the strikes were targeting
civilians and vowed to retaliate.
The Israeli strikes came after a week of violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem. On Thursday, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank village of Nablus. On Friday, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a group of Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem, killing one and injuring several others.
The violence has raised concerns of a wider escalation between Israel and Hamas, which fought a 11-day war in May 2021. The United Nations has called on both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further violence.
Hamas Claims Responsibility for Rocket Attack on Southern Israel
Hamas has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on southern Israel on Sunday. The attack came after Israeli airstrikes killed five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas said it fired the rocket in retaliation for the Israeli strikes. The rocket exploded in an open field near the Israeli city of Sderot, causing no injuries or damage.
The Israeli military said it was responding to the rocket attack with airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Officials Meet with Palestinian Counterparts to Discuss Security
Israeli officials met with Palestinian counterparts on Sunday to discuss security in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The meeting came after a week of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Israeli and Palestinian officials discussed ways to reduce violence and improve security cooperation. They also discussed the possibility of resuming peace talks.
The meeting was the first high-level meeting between Israeli and Palestinian officials in over a year. It is seen as a positive step towards improving relations between the two sides.
United Nations Calls on Israel and Hamas to Exercise Restraint
The United Nations has called on Israel and Hamas to exercise restraint and avoid further violence. The call came after Israeli airstrikes killed five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and Hamas responded with rocket fire into southern Israel.
The United Nations said it was concerned about the rising tensions between Israel and Hamas. It called on both sides to avoid actions that could lead to a wider escalation.
The United Nations also called on Israel and Hamas to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences. It said that dialogue was the only way to achieve a lasting peace between the two sides.
