“Israel” Halts Gaza Fuel Supply over Fire Bombs

By Staff, Agencies

The “Israeli” entity announced Thursday it was halting the "import of fuel into the Gaza Strip", the latest punitive measure over a wave of airborne fire bombs from the occupied Palestinian territory.

The “Israeli” War Ministry announcement came hours after “Israeli” jets and tanks hit targets affiliated with Hamas resistance group.

No casualties were reported.

The latest round of hostilities has seen firebombs attached to a bunch of balloons floating into the “Israeli” entity, setting scrubland ablaze. Sometimes kites are used in the makeshift operations.

In response, the entity has closed a goods crossing with besieged Gaza and slashed the territory's permitted coastal fishing zone.

The fuel sanction was "in light of the continued launching of incendiary balloons from the Strip toward the territory of the ‘State of “Israel”’ and of the undermining of security stability", the war ministry said.

“Israeli” fire services in the south of the country reported 60 fires caused by balloons on Tuesday, and 24 on Wednesday, without recording any casualties.

Hamas and the “Israeli” entity have fought three wars since 2008.

Despite a truce last year backed by the UN, Egypt and Qatar, the two sides clash sporadically with rockets, mortar fire or incendiary balloons.

The besieged Gaza Strip has a population of two million, more than half of whom live in poverty, according to the World Bank.

Palestinian analysts say fire from Gaza often aims to pressure the “Israeli” entity to give the green light for the transfer of Qatari financial aid into the strip.