24 Feb 2020 | 09:09 PM UTC
Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Exchange of fire continues across Israeli-Gazan border February 24 /update 4
Exchange of fire continues across Israeli-Gazan border on February 24 despite Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announcing end of attacks; further cross-border fire possible over the coming hours
Event
Israeli forces and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants continued to exchange fire across the Israeli-Gazan border on Monday, January 24, despite the PIJ announcing an end to its "military response." PIJ militants have fired around 80 rockets into Israel since Sunday, February 23, after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed a suspected Palestinian militant on Sunday morning (local time). The militant had reportedly attempted to place an improvised explosive device (IED) near the Israeli-Gazan border barrier before the IDF killed him and prevented Palestinians from retrieving his body with a bulldozer, which removed it from the area.
The rocket attacks have prompted residents in southern Israel to seek shelter as authorities have closed roads in the area. No Israeli casualties have been reported. Israeli forces, for their part, have carried out retaliatory airstrikes on PIJ facilities in the Gaza Strip, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to continue the counterattack "until quiet is restored."
Further cross-border fire is possible over the Israeli-Gazan border over the coming hours and days.
Advice
Individuals in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to monitor developments to the situation and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.
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.
