Tensions mount high along Gaza-Israel border

Tensions are mounting high along the Israel-Gaza border on Wednesday due to at least four cross-border fire exchanges over the past day.

Israeli tanks fired several artillery shells at the Palestinian enclave, following rocket fire by Gaza militants toward military targets on the border.

In the morning, an Israeli military spokesperson said a mortar round was fired from a Hamas post towards Israeli troops during an "operational activity" near southern Gaza's border, causing no injuries. "An Israel Defense Forces tank responded and fired towards the threat."

At noon, an explosion, apparently caused by another mortar, occurred near a force of Combat Engineering in front of Shuja'iyya in northern Gaza, followed by a third mortar two hours later.

Palestine official news agency WAFA said tanks bombed an agricultural area near the border and shelled two watchtowers allegedly used by Hamas' military wing of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

Another fire exchange was reported in the afternoon, with artillery shells fired at the neighborhood of Tufah in east Gaza.

Gaza's Ministry of Education evacuated two schools in eastern Gaza, fearing more bombings.

There were no immediate reports of injuries on the Palestinian side.

Hamas, the militant organization that controls Gaza, and the Islamic Jihad warned Israel of "consequences" should the recent escalation continues.

"The Israeli escalation is a new development and the Palestinian resistance is conducting consultations to decide how to react to it," said Mushir al-Masri, a senior Hamas leader, according to a report by the Jerusalem Post.

He called on the parties supervising the truce between Israel and Hamas to hold Israel accountable for "the violations of the Zionist enemy," stressing that "the enemy should not try Hamas' patience."

On Tuesday, shots were fired toward Israeli soldiers traveling in a military vehicle near the border. Nobody was injured, but damage was caused to a heavy army engineering machinery, the Times of Israel website reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip area, where military officials briefed him on the situation in the area, and about the recently discovered underground tunnel which crossed over from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territories. Israeli security forces believe the tunnel was aimed to carry out attacks.

Also on Tuesday, the Israeli Tax Authority said it thwarted an attempt to smuggle several tons of ammonium chloride into the Gaza Strip, as the chemicals can be used for military purposes, including long-range rockets.

Israel and Hamas fought a 51-day-long offensive in July through August of 2014, amid rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and the fear of underground tunnels. It claimed the lives of at least 2,251 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 72 Israelis, all but six were soldiers.

Since then, occasional rocket fire hit southern Israel in sporadic attacks, usually without injuries or damage. The Israeli Air Force retaliated several times by attacking targets in the Gaza Strip, resulting in several casualties.

Despite that, tensions have increased in recent months, as Hamas encouraged Palestinians in the West Bank and east Jerusalem to carry out attacks against Israelis, amid a wave of unrest which started in October and claimed the lives of 28 Israelis and nearly 200 Palestinians.

Hamas had also claimed responsibility for an explosion attack on a bus, which left twenty Israelis injured in Jerusalem last month.

Israel occupied the east Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza Strip territories, where Palestinians wish to establish an independent state, in the 1967 Mideast War.

Source: XINHUA