Israeli drone strikes 2 Hamas sites in Gaza

By Mohammad Majid

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – An Israeli aircraft carried out an airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Sunday amid tension over settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.

The strike targeted two Hamas watch towers near the Bureij and Jabalia refugee camps in central and northern Gaza, local sources said.

No injuries were reported.

The Israeli army confirmed the attack, saying the drone strike hit two military posts belonging to Hamas.

There was no comment from Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, on the Israeli strike.

The attack came as Palestinians staged a protest near the border security fence with Israel for the 8th consecutive day against settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa complex.

More than 300 Israeli settlers forced their way into the flashpoint site under police protection on Sunday to celebrate the Yom Kippur holiday, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third-holiest site. Jews, for their part, call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two ancient Jewish temples.

Home to nearly 2.3 million Palestinians, Gaza has been reeling under a years-long Israeli blockade since 2007, badly affecting livelihood in the enclave.
​​​​​​​
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar