{"id":4861,"date":"2021-05-16T08:30:36","date_gmt":"2021-05-16T08:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewalkeronline.com\/?p=4861"},"modified":"2021-05-16T08:30:36","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T08:30:36","slug":"israel-gaza-conflict-air-strike-targets-hamas-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewalkeronline.com\/?p=4861","title":{"rendered":"Israel Gaza conflict: Air strike targets Hamas leader"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nSunday, May 16, 2021
\nThe Israeli military says it has bombed the home of the political leader of the Palestinian group Hamas in a wave of air strikes on the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n

It released video of an exploding bomb which it said had hit the home of Yehiya Sinwar, the group’s overall leader in the territory.<\/p>\n

Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed at least two Palestinians early on Sunday, the seventh day of hostilities.<\/p>\n

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “continue to respond forcefully” to rocket attacks, amid calls from the international community to end the escalating conflict.<\/p>\n

A UN Security Council meeting is set to take place later on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
\nThousands protest in London over Gaza violence.
\nUS President Joe Biden phoned Mr Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to express concern about the situation on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Since the fighting began on Monday at least 141 people have been killed in Gaza, including 39 children and 22 women, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.<\/p>\n

Ten people, including two children, have been killed by militant attacks on Israel, Israeli officials say.<\/p>\n

The flare-up of violence over the last six days came after weeks of increasing Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas – the Palestinian group that runs Gaza – began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.<\/p>\n

How heavy were the overnight bombardments?
\nIsrael’s military said it had struck the homes of both Yehiya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad Sinwar, whom it described as head of logistics and manpower for Hamas.<\/p>\n

Both residences had, it said, “served as military infrastructure” for Hamas.<\/p>\n

Local sources confirmed for media that the Hamas leader’s home had been bombed. There were no immediate reports about the fate of the two brothers.<\/p>\n

Multiple air strikes rocked Gaza City during the night, with dozens of people reported missing under the rubble of homes, the BBC’s Rushdi Abualouf said.<\/p>\n

“I have never covered air strikes with such intensity, explosions are everywhere in Gaza, there are difficulties in communicating with officials to find out where the strikes are,” he said on Twitter.<\/p>\n

Mothers fear for their children
\nWhat is Hamas?
\nHow Israel’s Iron Dome missile shield works
\n“The building in which I live in [the] western part of the city shook like an earthquake,” he said. “A hysterical state of chaos, children and women in the building that houses more than 200 people screaming.”<\/p>\n

What are the prospects for a ceasefire?
\nBlaming the militants for the conflict. Mr Netanyahu said strikes would continue for “as long as necessary” and everything possible was being done to limit civilian casualties.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, the Israeli military blew up a tower block in Gaza City used by international media after issuing warnings to evacuate it.<\/p>\n

President Biden told Mr Netanyahu he continued to support Israel’s right to defend itself. He expressed concern over deaths on both sides and called for journalists to be protected.<\/p>\n

Speaking to President Abbas, the US leader said he was committed to “strengthening the US-Palestinian partnership”. He also said the Hamas rocket fire into Israel had to stop.<\/p>\n

Map showing Israel and the Gaza Strip
\nPresentational white space
\nPresident Abbas, who is based in the occupied West Bank, has little power in Gaza but the US will not speak to Hamas, which it regards as a terrorist organisation.<\/p>\n

Mr Biden told both leaders he remained committed to finding a two-state solution to the conflict.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>