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Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza in second attack since ceasefire agreement

PALESTINIAN resistance groups vowed to continue their defence of civilians after Israel launched rockets in a series of air attacks on Gaza, breaking a fragile ceasefire for the second time on Thursday.

Hamas, the ruling party in the besieged Palestinian enclave, said that the latest bombardment, which hit a number of civilian structures, was “a demonstrative show by the new Israeli government.”

Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said: “The resistance will be on the lookout in defence of our people, our people and our holy sites.”

Israel’s far-right Prime Minister Natfali Bennett was sworn in earlier this week, bringing an end to the 12-year rule of his predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Bennett has made no secret of his hostility to the Palestinian people, having previously vowed “to do everything in my power, forever, to fight against a Palestinian state” as well as boasting about having killed “many terrorists” during his military service.

Just two days after taking office, he launched missile strikes against Gaza, the first attack since a ceasefire was agreed with Hamas on May 21. 

Israel’s armed forces claimed to be responding to incendiary balloons launched from Gaza into the south of the country.

In a statement following the latest air strikes, the Israeli military vowed to “continue to destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and structures and hold it responsible for what is happening in the Gaza Strip.”

Tel Aviv has been emboldened by the continued support of the US administration of President Joe Biden, who approved some $735 million (£530.6m) in arms sales to Israel during its recent bombardment of Gaza, during which more than 250 Palestinians were killed.

Hawkish US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed security issues and the “ongoing challenges for Israel and the region” with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday, ahead of the bombing raids.

“The secretary discussed the US commitment to Israel’s security, the importance of the US-Israel bilateral relationship and the need to improve Israeli-Palestinian relations in practical ways,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

“Secretary Blinken and minister Lapid underscored the strong partnership between the United States and Israel and America’s unwavering support for Israel’s security.”

No casualties were reported in the latest attacks, which were reported to have damaged civilian buildings and agricultural fields east of the Gaza city of Jabalia and to have also hit targets in Khan Yunis, which has a population of about two million.

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