- Gaza hunger striker dies in Israeli custody, prompting a violent exchange between the two sides
- The member of the Islamic Jihad group was awaiting trial
- Adnan becomes the first Palestinian hunger striker to have died inside an Israeli prison in the last three decades
Khader Adnan, a member of the Islamic Jihad group on hunger strike for 87 days, died in Israeli custody, prompting a violent exchange between the two sides.
On Tuesday, Israeli jets struck targets across the Gaza Strip, an attack in response to the militant group's rocket barrages launched earlier in the day. The latter was a result of Adnan's death while being detained.
Death of Palestinian Hunger Striker
Following Adnan's death, hundreds gathered in blockaded Gaza and the occupied West Bank streets. They rallied in support of the individual and mourned his death. Palestinian leaders claim that the death of Adnan was considered an "assassination," as per Reuters.
An umbrella group of armed Palestinian factions in Gaza and Hamas and Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the number of rockets that targeted Israel during the day. On the other hand, the Israeli military revealed that they monitored 26 projectiles coming from Gaza.
Officials said two rockets landed in Sderot, injuring three people, including a 25-year-old foreign national. According to Israeli's ambulance service, that individual was found to have sustained severe shrapnel wounds.
Shops located in the West Bank city of Hebron saw a general strike, and some protesters burned tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. The latter fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators to push them back.
On Tuesday, the Deputy Chief of Staff Amir Baram said that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would firmly respond to restore regional peace. However, security officials said that they wanted the response to be "measured" to avoid further escalating tensions in the West Bank, according to Haaretz.
Rising Tensions Between Israel and Gaza
Currently, Arab and world leaders are continuously working to ease tensions between the two sides to prevent further escalation and end the recent cycle of violence. However, a Palestinian source said Egypt's attempts to mediate peace have not yet reached an agreement.
Adnan was initially arrested in Israel on Feb. 5 earlier this year and continued to refuse to receive medical examinations. A previous report noted that he was taken into custody over allegations that he was a member of a terrorist organization and for support for terrorism and incitement.
The director of Masarat, Hani al-Masri, said that the situation between the two sides would result in an escalation. He argued that this was evident in the internal and external pressures the Israeli government faces.
Al-Masri said the Israeli government faces pressure from the opposition and inside the government to respond. Aljazeera said the Masarat director's remarks were made prior to Israeli's attacks on Gaza on Tuesday.
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