The Israel-Hamas conflict continues to escalate. On July 20, Hamas shot at Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers, prompting Israel to respond with airstrikes against the terror group.
The shooting took place at the Israel-Gaza border, where Palestinians began shooting at IDF soldiers during a Hamas-led riot at the border. Israel retaliated by striking eight Hamas posts throughout the Gaza strip, killing at least three Hamas terrorists.
The IDF tweeted the following about the situation:
IAF jets recently conducted a wide-scale attack against Hamas military targets throughout the Gaza Strip following a severe shooting attack against IDF soldiers this afternoon. The IDF is currently conducting the attack in various locations
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 20, 2018
Earlier today, IDF aircraft and tanks targeted military targets belonging to the Hamas terror organization
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 20, 2018
The IDF views today's attack and the hostile activity orchestrated by Hamas throughout the last months with great severity. Hamas chose to escalate the security situation and will bear the consequences for its actions
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 20, 2018
IDF troops are on high alert and will continue to operate in order to ensure the safety of Israeli civilians
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 20, 2018
The day prior, Israel launched airstrikes against Hamas in response to the terror group’s repeated use of incendiary kites and balloons against Israelis, which killed one Hamas terrorist. Hamas then launched rockets and mortars toward Israel; no injuries or damage were reported.
Israel has warned that it will invade Gaza if Hamas doesn’t cease its use of incendiary balloons and kites against Israelis.
“Hamas leaders are forcibly leading us into a situation where we will have no choice, a situation in which we will have to embark on a painful, wide-scale military operation,” Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said in Sderot on July 20. He added that such an operation could result in a longer, more painful war than the 2014 conflict.
