Why did incendiary balloons increase tension in Gaza?
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(CNN) -
Israel's military struck targets in Gaza for the second time this week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported in a statement, after a continuous bombardment of incendiary balloons sparked eight fires in southern Israel.On early Wednesday morning, the IDF attacked what it claimed were Hamas military complexes and meeting places of the Khan Younis and Gaza brigades of the militant organization that rules Gaza. These airstrikes, the first since the ceasefire took effect last month, were a response to the incendiary balloons that set 20 fires in fields in southern Israel.
Less than 48 hours later, as the launch of balloons from Gaza continued, the Israel Defense Forces carried out another series of airstrikes late Thursday night.
The IDF said they were targeting military complexes and a launch site belonging to Hamas.
Video: Israel responds to airstrike from Gaza 0:34
In a sign that both Israel and Hamas were interested in avoiding a full escalation, Hamas did not respond to airstrikes on Wednesday with rocket fire.
However, the situation along the Israel-Gaza border remains fragile, and a miscalculation by either side could trigger an immediate and serious escalation in an environment that has not returned to calm after the fighting of the last month.
In the early afternoon of Thursday, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces conducted an assessment of the situation, which included the possibility that fighting between Israel and Hamas would resume.
Hamas spokesman Abd Al-Lateef Qanoua told CNN: "The occupation will not be able to impose any comparison, and what this occupation could not achieve in the recent aggression, it will not be able to achieve by intimidating our people and bombing empty lands."
Incendiary balloons
They are relatively simple contraptions: helium balloons that often look like children's birthday party decorations, attached to explosives or devices that are previously set on fire.
The militants launch the balloons from Gaza and the winds of the Mediterranean Sea help to propel them towards the Israeli territory.
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Although militants have been launching balloons into Israel for years, the Israeli army's response with airstrikes in Gaza is a further escalation.
Officials from the country said it was part of a message to Hamas that any provocation will be answered with force.
Former Finance Minister Israel Katz, who was in the cabinet during the last conflict with Gaza last month, said that after that operation, "we decided to change the rules."
"For every attack in Israel, targeted assassinations and widespread attacks will be carried out against Hamas targets," he tweeted.
–CNN Fairies Gold contributed to this report.
Conflict Israel and Palestine
