18 Dec 2017 | 10:52 AM UTC
Israel: Airstrikes in Gaza December 18
Two rockets launched from Gaza to Israel on Sunday, December 17; Israel bombs several Hamas sites on Monday morning
Event
On Monday morning, December 18, the Israeli army conducted airstrikes on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip following at least two guided rockets fired from Gaza the day prior. One of the rockets hit a house in southern Israel, while the other fell on Gazan territory. The Israeli airstrikes targeted a Hamas training camp in northern Gaza. No casualties were reported in any of the incidents.
Context
Tensions have escalated between Israel and Palestine since US President Donald Trump announced the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6. Mass protests have been taking place in the Palestinian territories; these protests have resulted in violent clashes between demonstrators and Israeli forces on numerous occasions. On December 16, four Palestinians were killed and 160 wounded in the violence. Tensions have been particularly acute in the Gaza Strip, which has been under the control of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the State of Israel.
Advice
Individuals in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to monitor developments to the situation and to avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of violence. A surge in anti-American and anti-Western sentiment is likely in some areas; all travelers, and Westerners in particular, are advised to maintain a low profile (do not discuss sensitive topics, do not stop to take photographs of demonstrations, etc.) and avoid unnecessary movements in the event of unrest.
More generally, due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.
