After the besieged Palestinians launched burning balloons toward southern Israel, Israel carried out air strikes on Gaza.

Witnesses from the Israeli military and Gaza said that the Israeli Air Force launched an air strike on the Gaza Strip early Wednesday after Palestinians in the besieged enclave launched burning balloons towards southern Israel.

The Israeli army stated in a statement that it had attacked the Hamas compound and was “prepared to respond to all situations, including renewed fighting in the face of continuing terrorist acts from Gaza.” It added that the attack was a response to the launch of the balloon, and the Israeli fire brigade reported that the balloon caused 20 fires in open spaces in communities near the Gaza border.

It is not clear whether the explosion caused casualties in Gaza.

Palestinian sources told AFP that the attack targeted at least one location east of the southern city of Khan Yunes. A Hamas spokesperson confirmed the Israeli attack and told Reuters that the Palestinians would continue to “brave resistance and defend their rights and holy land” in Jerusalem.

The air strike marks the first major outbreak between Israel and Gaza Ceasefire According to the Gaza authorities, Israel ended an 11-day attack on the territory on May 21, which killed 256 Palestinians, including 66 children. Twelve people in Israel were also killed by rockets launched from the enclave.

Gaza tonight pic.twitter.com/2iwp09R1js

— Muhammad Smiry (@MuhammadSmiry) June 15, 2021

This is also the first attack on Gaza since the new Israeli coalition government led by right-wing nationalists. Naftali Bennett, Took over over the weekend, ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year term as prime minister.

New government Monday Approved a “provocative” parade Launched by Israeli far-right nationalists and pro-settler groups through occupied East Jerusalem.

Hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza protest Oppose the so-called “Flag of march“This marked the anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the eastern part of the city in 1967.

At the time of the rally, Israel planned to forcibly expel Palestinian families from the vicinity of Sheikh Jarrah, and tensions remained high.

Before the parade, Israeli police forcibly removed dozens of Palestinians from outside the Damascus gate in the old city. Israeli police fired stun grenades in the area around Damascus Gate. At least 17 Palestinians were arrested and 33 others were injured.

Hundreds of Jewish ultranationalists who participated in the parade were heard chanting “death of the Arabs” in Hebrew. In another anti-Palestinian slogan, they shouted: “May your village burn.”