Israel launches first airstrikes on Gaza since truce

Israel has launched airstrikes on Gaza for the first time since a truce ended 11 days of fighting last month.
The attacks, which took place early Wednesday morning, are also the first since the new Israeli government was sworn in on Sunday.
According to Israel, they were in response to Palestinians launching incendiary balloons which caused 20 fires in open fields.
The balloons were in protest against a march by Jewish ultranationalists through Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem on Tuesday, which included chants of ‘Death to Arabs!’ and saw Israeli police fire rubber-tipped bullets at Palestinians objecting to it.
Several Israeli parliamentarians joined the march.
The Israeli military said it was ‘ready for all scenarios, including renewed fighting in the face of continued terrorist acts emanating from Gaza.’
A Hamas spokesman said Palestinians would continue to pursue their ‘brave resistance and defend their rights and sacred sites’ in Jerusalem.