29 May 2018 | 08:35 AM UTC
Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Barrage of missiles from Gaza into Israel May 29
Barrage of missiles shot from Gaza Strip into Israel May 29; no damage or casualties reported
Event
On Tuesday, May 29, a barrage of some 25 missiles was shot into Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting sirens in southern Israel and calls for residents to take shelter. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system shot down most of the missiles, according to the military. There have been no reports of damages or casualties in Israel from the missile attack.
On a related note, on May 28 Israeli tank fire killed a Hamas militant at a border outpost and two other Gazans attempting to cross into Israel were apprehended by authorities.
Due to high tensions, additional cross-border strikes between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters in Gaza are likely in the coming days and weeks.
Context
A spike in tensions and cross-border incidents has been observed in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the wake of US President Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement that the US would officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a departure from the previous US and international position of neutrality on the status of the city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. The embassy was officially inaugurated on May 14, leading to an extreme resurgence in tensions. Some 120 Gazans have been killed and thousands others wounded by Israeli forces during protests that lasted six weeks, ending on May 15 (Nakba Day; "catastrophe") which commemorates the 1948 Palestinian exodus from the territory that became the State of Israel.
Advice
Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. 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. Some 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.
