Israel strikes Hamas targets after two-day balloon barrage

Early Thursday, air strikes targeted Hamas military sites in southern and northern Gaza following two days after two days of fires were ignited by Palestinian incendiary balloons. Also struck were dug-in rocket launching sites. It was Israel’s second air strike this week in response to Palestinian balloons. A Hamas spokesman declared: “ We won’t let Israel change the rules,” after the new government said that Palestinian balloon attacks would be treated the same as rocket fire.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi has ordered a military buildup ready to meet any further escalation on the Gaza front. He is due to fly to Washington on Saturday night. PM Naftali Bennett calls his first security cabinet meeting for Sunday.