First time since the end of last month's war, Israel-Gaza violence flare up

A tree in a field catches fire after Palestinians in Gaza sent incendiary balloons over the border between Gaza and Israel, Near Nir Am June 15,2021.

In response to incendiary balloons fired from Palestinian territory, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday, the first since the end of 11 days of cross-border war-fare last month.

The flare-up, which came after a Jewish nationalist march in East Jerusalem on Tuesday that drew Hamas, Gaza's governing militant organisation, threats of action, was the first test for Israel's new administration.

The Israeli military claimed its aircraft struck Hamas weapons installations in Gaza City and Khan Younis in the south, adding that it was "prepared for all possibilities, including the fresh battle in the face of ongoing terrorist activities coming from Gaza."

The airstrikes, as per the military, were in response to the balloons being launched, which the Israeli fire bridge reported ignited 20 fires in open areas near the Gaza border.

Confirming the Israeli strikes, a Hamas spokesperson said Palestinians will continue their "brave resistance and defence of their rights and sacred places" in Jerusalem.

Thousands of flag-waving Israelis gathered at Jerusalem's Old City's Damascus Gate hours earlier before proceeding to Judaism's sacred Western Wall, provoking Palestinian fury and criticism.

Israel considers the entire city to be its capital, having occupied East Jerusalem in a 1967 conflict and then annexed it in a move that has not received international recognition. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state that encompasses the West Bank and Gaza.

In preparation for probable rocket strikes from Gaza, Israel increased its deployment of the Iron Dome anti-missile system prior to Tuesday's march.

However, there was no evidence of rocket fire from the enclave as the protesters dispersed after dusk in Jerusalem.

The march had been planned for May 10 as part of the "Jerusalem Day" celebrations commemorating Israel's conquest of East Jerusalem.

Reportedly, that march was redirected at the last minute away from the Damascus Gate and the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, but it was not enough to stop Hamas from firing rockets towards Jerusalem, which sparked last month's round of violence.