An infant and her pregnant mother were among six people killed in Gaza after Israel responded with airstrikes and tank fire to about 250 rockets being fired over the border by Palestinian militants on a day that has put further strain on an already fraying ceasefire.

It was the second day of fighting after a month-long lull in violence around the blockaded enclave and came while leaders of Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, were in Egypt for talks aimed at restoring the faltering ceasefire deal.

As well as the pregnant mother, 37, and her 14-month-old daughter Seba Abu Arar,there were four other Palestinian killed, including Emad Nassir, 22, killed in an airstrike earlier in the day, and a 25-year-old man who, according to health officials, was hit by an Israeli drone missile while traveling on a motorbike in northern Gaza.

Four Israelis, including an 80-year-old woman, were also wounded by Palestinian rocket fire.

The spike in violence began on Friday when two Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli security forces during protests along the Israel-Gaza perimeter fence. Palestinian militants also shot and wounded two Israeli military personnel.

In total, more than 200 Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed during the protests, which began last year.

No group has claimed responsibility for Friday’s shootings of the Israeli soldiers, though an Israeli military spokesman said an Islamic jihad group was behind them.

Source: The Guardian

BDST: 1031 HRS, MAY 5, 2019
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