Tensions spiral in Jerusalem, Israel’s southern front
Israel is seething with conflict between Jews and Arabs with increasing tension in the West Bank, rocket fire from Gaza and with fear of escalation on the northern border.
Israel completely closed off Gaza's fishing zone this morning. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Rassan Alian had said earlier that the Gaza fishing zone would be restricted from 15 to nine nautical miles, but after repeated rocket fire from the Strip toward the south of Israel, it was closed entirely. So far, the Israel Defense Forces have not responded militarily.
COGAT said in a statement, “Hamas is held accountable for all that is done in and from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, and it will bear the consequences for the violence committed against the citizens of the State of Israel.” Two Gaza factions, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and a branch of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, had claimed responsibility for the Friday-Saturday rocket fire.
