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Middle East conflict: Thousands of rockets on Israel, air strikes on Hamas' tunnel system

2021-05-19T03:02:43.446Z


The Israeli army bombs the tunnel system of Hamas, which continues to fire rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip: the situation in the Middle East remains explosive. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing their homes.


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Explosion in the Gaza Strip: The Israeli army continued its massive attacks during the night

Photo: BASHAR TALEB / AFP

Even a week after the recent escalation began, there is no sign of any easing of the situation in the Middle East conflict.

According to the Israeli army, around 3,150 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel in the past seven days.

Meanwhile, Israel continues its massive attacks on the Palestinian Territory.

According to their own statements, the Israeli military attacked the Islamist Hamas tunnel system in the Gaza Strip again.

54 fighter planes shot at around 35 targets during the night, the army announced on Monday morning.

About 15 kilometers of the so-called metro system were attacked.

It was therefore the third wave of attacks directed against the tunnel network.

As Israel's army announced, Hamas had built the system over the years.

Among other things, it serves to protect fighters and to move them quickly.

The "Metro" is largely located under the city of Gaza in the north of the Gaza Strip.

A spokesman called it the "city under the city."

One of the goals of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the latest conflict is to destroy important infrastructure facilities belonging to Hamas, which ruled the Gaza Strip.

Last night, the homes of important Hamas officials were again shot at.

During the night, the Israeli army declared that fighter jets were bombing "terrorist targets" in the Gaza Strip.

However, the massive air strikes also have devastating consequences for the civilian population in the Palestinian Territory.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have left their homes

Around 42,000 Palestinians have left their homes because of the ongoing attacks by Israel on the coastal area.

They sought protection in 50 schools of the United Nations Palestinian Authority (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, as a spokesman for the organization announced.

More than 2500 people have been left homeless after their homes were destroyed.

At the same time, the shelling from the Gaza Strip on Israel continues.

According to the army, warning sirens sounded in several places during the night.

More than 200 people have now died in the most recent wave of violence in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ten Israelis have been killed and another 280 injured since last Monday.

At least 197 people died on the Palestinian side, including at least 58 children.

More than 1200 people were injured there.

International mediation efforts so far unsuccessful

Despite the ongoing violence, international efforts to achieve a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful.

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, UN Secretary General António Guterres warned of the uncontrollable consequences of the conflict for the entire Middle East.

more on the subject

  • US Response to Escalating Violence: Why the Middle East Crisis Is Also a Problem for Joe BidenBy Roland Nelles, Washington

  • Escalation in the Middle East: "It's the first time I've been afraid of my neighbors" Alexandra Rojkov reports from Lod

  • Escalation in the Middle East: Attack with "kamikaze drones" by Francesco Collini

In view of the increasing violence with many dead, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud at the weekend.

According to the US State Department, the main focus was on ongoing efforts to ease tension and end violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"Our campaign against the terrorist organizations will continue with full force," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

The army has so far attacked more than 1,500 targets in the Gaza Strip.

The mission "will still take some time".

The most recent conflict escalated during the attempt to form a government in Israel.

The previous opposition leader, Jair Lapid, accused Netanyahu of using the conflict to secure his retention in office.

The Prime Minister disagreed.

He had not previously succeeded in forging a majority for a coalition, so that the task of forming a government fell to Lapid.

asc / dpa / AFP

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2021-05-19

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