Nearly 40 rockets fired from Gaza after Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israeli custody; Israel retaliates

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a total of 37 projectiles were fired from Gaza Strip atsouthern Israel,on Tuesday (May 2),in the span of a few hours, reported Times of Israel. The recent volley of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip began after an Islamic Jihad leader died in Israeli custody following an 87-day hunger strike. It was not until late Tuesday that Israel retaliated by conducting airstrikes in Gaza.

Death of Palestinian hunger striker

According to Israel’s Prisons Service, Palestinian hunger striker, Khader Adnan, who was awaiting trial, was found unconscious in his cell and taken to a hospital. However, he was declared dead after efforts to revive him failed. This is said to be the first such death in more than three decades.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Adnan had observed at least three hunger strikes, since 2011,in protest at detentions without charges by Israel. It is a tactic often used by Palestinian prisoners but none of them have died since 1992, reports Reuters.

ALSO WATCH |45-year-old Islamic Jihad member Khader Adnan dies is Israeli custody

However, Khader Adnan’s lawyer Jamil al-Khatib and Lina Qasem-Hassan of Physicians for Human Rights in Israel, who recently met him, have accused Israeli authorities of withholding medical care. Al-Khatib told Reuters, how they asked that Adnan be moved to a civilian hospital to be “properly monitored,” but their demand was “met by intransigence and rejection”.

Adnan’s death sparks protests, violence

Hours after the Palestinian detainee’s death, hundreds of people took to the streets in blockaded Gaza and the occupied West Bank’s Ramallah.Adnan’s death has also been called an assassination by Palestinian leaders while the armed group Islamic Jihad warns Israel that it will “pay the price for this crime”.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh also described Adnan’s death as a “deliberate assassination”.

ALSO WATCH |US speaker McCarthy addresses Israel's Parliament, says 'assure security funding to Israel' | WION

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Palestinian politicianMustafa Barghoutifrom the Palestinian National Initiative political partydirectly blamed the Israeli government and national security ministerItamar Ben-Gvir for Adnan’s death and said they are “personally responsible for this act of assassination”.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian gunman opened fire at Israeli vehicles and injured one person who was driving near the West Bank’s Avnei Hefetz, on Tuesday. The 39-year-old Israeli man travelling in one of the vehicles was lightly injured by glass shards, said the Israeli ambulance serviceMagen David Adom. The incident took place hours after Adnan’s death, however, no group or individual had immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

A volley of rockets fired

The IDF, in an earlier statement, said that sirens were sounded across areas surrounding the Gaza Strip after several rocket launches. The Israeli military said at least three rockets were fired from Gaza in the hours after Adnan's death and a further 26 were launched later in the afternoon.

ALSO READ |Israeli airstrike kills one soldier, puts Aleppo airport out of service, says Syria

According to media reports citing officials, two rockets landed in the southern city of Sderot which injured three foreign nationals, including a 25-year-old who was seriously wounded. As of late Tuesday, the IDF has confirmed that rockets fired from Gaza have hit multiple locations in southern Israel, including Kissufim and areas of Sderot.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with security officials after the IDF said they were investigating how two rockets had penetrated their Iron Dome air defence system.

In a recent statement, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he has completed several “operational situation assessments” after the rocket fire from Gaza Stripand the security forces will “act with determination” to defend their citizens.

Israelretaliates

The IDF has said that they will carry outairstrikes in the Gaza Strip in response to the volley of rockets launched at Israel, earlier Tuesday. According toPalestinian media, explosions were heard across the northern part of Gaza. Meanwhile, thearmedHamas group saidits members are firing missiles at Israeli aircraft over the Gaza Strip.

ALSO READ |Israel launches air strikes on Gaza Strip after vowing to retaliate over Lebanon rocket salvo

In a statement, the Israeli military said it targetedHamas training camp and several other sites belonging to the group and said, "The strike deals a serious blow to Hamas’s ability to fortify and arm itself," as quoted by Times of Israel. It added, "The Hamas terror organization is responsible for the Gaza Strip and will pay the price for security violations against the State of Israel."

Reports of rockets being fired also came hours after Syrian state media reported that Israel launched airstrikes targeting north Syria’s Aleppo province late Monday.The report citing a military source also said that seven people, including two civilians, were injured, and the supposed strike had since put the Aleppo international airport out of service.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.