GAZA, Saturday, May 04, 2019 (WAFA) – At least four Palestinians were injured today in Israeli airstrikes on and shelling of several areas in the Gaza Strip, reported WAFA correspondent.

He said Israeli warplanes fired missiles and tanks stationed on the Israeli border with Gaza fired shells at several locations in the north and south of the Gaza Strip injuring four people north of Gaza City, as confirmed by medical sources.

Locations in the south of the Gaza Strip, mainly in Khan Younis, were also attacked by artillery shells causing damage to property but no injuries.

The Israeli attacks came after militias in Gaza fired dozens of homemade missiles at southern Israeli towns in apparent retaliation for yesterday’s Israeli killing of four Palestinians in Gaza - two members of Hamas’s military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, killed in an airstrike and two civilians killed during the March of Return protests on the Gaza border with Israel.

Reports from Israel said sirens were heard throughout the southern parts and as far as Asqalan where the army called for opening the shelters and closed off roads leading to the Gaza frontier in anticipation of the renewed round of fighting in the aftermath of yesterday’s killing and following weeks of calm. Iron Dome missiles were also seen and heard intercepting the rockets fired from Gaza.

Egypt has been mediating between Palestinian factions in Gaza, mainly Hamas, which runs the besieged Strip since July 2007, and the Islamic Jihad on one hand, and Israel on the other to prevent outbreak of hostilities. The new round of violence came as Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders were in Egypt to discuss a long-term calm between Gaza and Israel.

M.K.