Israeli army intercepts 'small aircraft' over Gaza strip
The army stressed it was not a rocket or other fire which posed a threat to Israelis. They didn’t say where the aircraft had been heading or where it had come from nor was there any immediate claim of responsibility from any of the armed Palestinian factions in Gaza
Representational Image. AP
Jerusalem: The Israeli army said Saturday it had “intercepted a small aircraft over the Gaza Strip”, where witnesses told AFP they heard “explosions” near the border.
The army stressed it was not rocket or other fire that posed a threat to Israelis. “It was not a projectile launch. Full routine continues on the Israeli home front,” it said in a statement.
The army didn’t say where the aircraft had been heading or where it had come from.
Nor was there any immediate claim of responsibility from any of the armed Palestinian factions in Gaza.
Earlier on Saturday, the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad group said its leader Ziad al-Nakhala had travelled to Cairo to meet Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
It said the two sides discussed “the situation in Jerusalem, and the West Bank, especially Jenin,” a flashpoint city and refugee camp, where Israel last month conducted its deadliest single operation in the West Bank in years, killing 10 people.
The trip followed a visit by Kamel to the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday, where he met Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to discuss the recent surge in violence.
On Thursday, Israel conducted air strikes on the Gaza Strip, hours after intercepting a rocket fired from the Palestinian territory.
Since the start of the year, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of 36 Palestinians, including attackers, militants and civilians.
Six Israeli civilians, including a child, and one Ukrainian civilian have been killed over the same period.
The densely populated Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, has been under Israeli blockade since Hamas ousted forces loyal to Abbas in 2007.
Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,
India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
also read
100 killed in Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year
The Palestinian health ministry announced the death of Yazan Omar Jamil Khasib, 23, who died 'after the occupation (Israel) opened fire on him at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh' city near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank
Israeli govt drives ahead with judicial plan despite outcry
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition said it was pushing a key part of the overhaul — which would give the coalition control over who becomes a justice or a judge
Israel, Palestinians meet in Egypt to ease tensions
There was no immediate comment from Israel on the meeting, but Israeli media said senior security officials were set to attend