Israeli Jets Strike Gaza Strip After Shelling
By VOA News May 29, 2018
The strikes came hours after the Israel Defense Forces said militants in Gaza fired at least 25 mortar shells toward several sites in southern Israel.
The IDF statement said most of the projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, while some landed in open areas. No injuries were reported.
Tensions along the border have been high for two months with Palestinians holding protests calling for a right to return to land they fled or were forced to leave when Israel was created in 1948. Protesters have also rallied against a blockade of Gaza that has been in place for more than a decade as well as the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
A group of Palestinian activists left Gaza in boats Tuesday to further protest the blockade. Israel limits how far from shore people can travel, and it was unclear how close to the boundary the activists planned to go.
Israeli forces have killed at least 115 Palestinians since the end of March, drawing criticism for the use of force. Israel has blamed the militant group Hamas for provoking violence and says it has acted to protect the border.
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