GAZA CITY: Israel hit a Hamas base in an air raid Thursday in response to gunfire from the Gaza Strip, but weeks of deadly mass protests and clashes along the border may be reaching an end as Ramazan begins.
Tens of thousands have protested along Gaza’s border with Israel since March 30 calling for Palestinian refugees to be able to return to their homes now inside Israel.
The largest demonstrations coincided with the move of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Monday, which saw Israeli forces kill some 60 Palestinians.
The death toll led to international condemnations of Israel and calls for an independent investigation.
Israel rejects those calls, saying its actions are necessary to stop mass infiltrations from the blockaded Palestinian enclave controlled by Islamist movement Hamas.
On Wednesday, Israeli officials seized upon remarks by a senior Hamas member who said 50 of the 62 Palestinians killed this week were members of the group, arguing it showed the protests were not peaceful.
But the Hamas official, Salah Bardawil, did not give further details about whether they were members of the group’s armed or political wing, or what they were doing at the time they were killed.
Another Hamas official did not confirm the number, but said those participating were demonstrating peacefully.
The protests, which have seen unsuccessful attempts to break through the fence, have dwindled since Monday, and the start of fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Thursday may further lessen interest.
Friday — when the protests usually peak — will be a key test over whether the current round of unrest will continue on any level.
The demonstrations were initially meant to end on May 15, but Hamas officials have said they want them to continue.
Some 116 Palestinians have been killed since the protests began. One Israeli soldier has been reported wounded.
The overnight raid by Israel came after it said gunfire from Gaza targeted its soldiers and damaged a house. No one was hurt by the gunfire.
“The Israeli army struck targets belonging to Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, including terrorist infrastructure and weapons-making facilities,” the military said in a statement.
Palestinian security sources confirmed the target was a Hamas base, saying there were no reports of injuries.
Hamas in a statement on Thursday signalled it could resort to its weapons in response to this week’s violence, but many analysts see the possibility as unlikely for now.
“We stress to the Zionist enemy and its leaders that the resistance movements whose people are participating in this peaceful movement with all awareness and concern for our people can respond with all force,” it said.
