ISRAEL BOMBS GAZA OVER BALLOON ATTACKS

The Israeli army on Sunday morning (August 30, 2020) said it again retaliated against explosive balloons launched from Gaza by firing at Hamas facilities in the area, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

"Explosive balloons were launched from #Gaza into #Israel throughout the day, igniting fires on land across southern Israel. In response, our tanks just struck Hamas military posts in Gaza," the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said on Twitter.

After a coronavirus-related lull, Palestinians have stepped up cross-border attacks from Gaza this month, including what Israel describes as "balloon terrorism" - setting ablaze agricultural fields in southern Israel with incendiary balloons.

Israel suspended fuel shipments and closed its border crossings with the Gaza Strip in response to the attacks, resulting in the only power plant in the Gaza Strip being shut down for lack of fuel. It also restricted the fishery zone on Gaza's coast. The Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union. Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in the 1967 Six-Day War, but unilaterally pulled out its army and evacuated its settlements in the Strip in 2005. Israel, however, continues to control Gaza's borders, along with Egypt. Israel frequently closes crossings in response to rocket fire and violence along the border.