Israel/Palestinian Territories: Airstrikes in Gaza Feb. 1-2

Event

On the night of February 1-2, the Israeli army conducted airstrikes on Hamas positions near Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip, in retaliation for a guided rocket fired from Gaza at 23:30 (local time) on February 1. No casualties have been reported but several houses were damaged, according to a Palestinian security service source.

This incidents come only three days after a rocket fired from Gaza exploded in the south of Israel overnight January 29-30. Similar attacks and counter-attacks are likely to continue in the coming days and weeks.

Context

Rocket fire and airstrikes between Israel and the Gaza Strip have intensified since early December 2017. At least 20 rockets and mortars have been fired from the Gaza Strip, systematically followed by Israeli airstrikes. Although the rockets are often fired by independent groups, the Israeli government holds Hamas responsible and hits Hamas position in retaliation.

Advice

Due to the underlying terrorist threat, individuals in Israel and the Palestinian Territories 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 organisations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.