Israeli forces strike Gaza for second time following incendiary balloons

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday fired a second round of airstrikes on Gaza, after Palestinian militants released incendiary balloons that caused eight fires in southern Israel.

The IDF said it struck Hamas military complexes, according to CNN.

These strikes come one day after Israel broke its cease-fire with Hamas, striking compound buildings it says belong to the militant group.

Hamas did not respond to the Wednesday airstrikes, CNN reported, a sign that the group is seeking to avoid escalation.

“The occupation will not be able to impose any equation, and what this occupation couldn’t achieve in the recent aggression, it will not be able to achieve it by intimidating our people and bombing empty lands,” Hamas spokesperson Abd Al-Lateef Qanoua told CNN.

CNN reports that the IDF Chief of Staff conducted a situation assessment Thursday evening, exploring the possibility or resuming fighting between Israel and Hamas. 

The Hill has reached out to the IDF and the Israeli Embassy in the U.S. for further information.

Israel launched on airstrike on Gaza in response to incendiary balloons, normal helium balloons with pre-lit explosive devices attached. Those first balloons sparked 20 fires in fields across southern Israel, CNN reported.

These strikes come nearly a month after Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire following 11 days of fighting that resulted in the deaths of more than 200 Palestinians and 12 Israelis.

This week, Israel also swore in a new government, solidifying the removal of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had been in power for 12 years.