Aug 29, 2021: The Israel military says its planes quickly hit Hamas positions in Gaza, while the recent escalation of violence in response to fireballs starting from the besieged Palestinian enclave tested a fragile ceasefire that ended the deadly conflict in May this year.

The Israel army said Sunday that hundreds of Palestinians had gathered at night to block the separation between Israel and the Gaza Strip, hurling explosives and burning tires, and that soldiers responded with “means of spreading unrest.”

Palestinian groups announced on Saturday that they were resuming protests against the secession barrier, aimed at pressuring Israel to ease sanctions in the isolated area.

Protests erupted later that day, with the Israel army firing live rounds, tear gas, and stun grenades as Palestinians burned tyres. The health ministry in Gaza said 11 Palestinians had been hurt in the clashes, three of them by live rounds.

In Gaza, the health ministry said 11 Palestinians were wounded in the clashes, three of them by live rounds.

Israel and Egypt have maintained blockades on the Gaza Strip since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 after winning Palestinian elections.

There have been four violent clashes between Israel and Hamas, most recently in May. The blockade has restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, destroyed the region’s economy and damaged a population of 2 million.

The Palestinians said the demonstration was the first of its kind to take place at night and would continue throughout the week.

Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said early Sunday: “We will operate in Gaza according to our interests.”

On Saturday, Palestinians in Gaza laid to rest Omar Hassan Abu al-Neil, 12, who died of his wounds after being shot at by Israel occupying forces a week earlier.

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire ended Israel’s asaault on Gaza in May, with Gaza fighters firing rockets at Israeli cities and Israel bombing the entire region.

The 11-day battle killed 260 Palestinians, including 67 children, and 12 in Israel.

But despite Israel’s recent announcement to resume Qatari aid to Gaza, violence has escalated, a decision seen as damaging the ceasefire.

Palestinian groups say Israel has not yet acted on its promise to let aid through and that in the past two weeks, militants have fired rockets and sent balloons into Israel, firing brushes and blowing up Hamas installations.