![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Incendiary_balloons_from_Gaza_strip.jpg/220px-Incendiary_balloons_from_Gaza_strip.jpg)
Palestinian youth had been sending fire-Kites into Southern Israel for months, since March 30th.[1] Close to 200 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip toward Southern Israel since late Friday, July 13, 2018. Thirty of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome. A few Israelis were wounded. This round of violence started in Gaza with burning tires during the “March to return” protests and escalated to an “aerial terror offensive” against Israeli border communities. But the damage of this conflict is far reaching, since not only people but also wildlife and nature is under attack. Also the black smoke, fires and deforestation contribute to regional and Global warming. [2][3]
Retaliation
On July 14 the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched attacks in the Gaza Strip.[4] "This was a red line and a sufficient reason to go on the offense," said a defense official. "We made it clear that there's no such thing as us halting our fire while they continue launching incendiary kites. If they don't stop, we'll have to keep going."[5]
Casualties and injured civilians on July 14
Following the rocket attack from Gaza and retaliation by the Israeli Air force. Two people were killed and fourteen wounded.[6]
Environmental disaster
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Wheat_field_near_Sapir_college_firebombe_kite_damage_519.jpg/220px-Wheat_field_near_Sapir_college_firebombe_kite_damage_519.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Demege_caused_by_palestinian_fire-kites.jpg/220px-Demege_caused_by_palestinian_fire-kites.jpg)
Fire kites and fire balloons also burnt nature reserves, killed wildlife and polluted this dry, desert region.[1] Shokeda Forest and Carmia forest reserve have been severely damaged by fire.[1][2] Ecologist Dr. Assaf Tzoer explains: "Fires usually start in thorn fields, and then quickly spread; consuming slower animals such as chameleons and turtles that simply cannot escape them. Their populations in these region have simply vanished. Faster moving animals do tend to be able to escape, but not all of them."[7]
New restrictions
The UN criticized Israel for closing the Kerem Shalom crossing.[8][9]
See also
- 2018 Gaza border protests
- List of violent incidents in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, 2018
- List of Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel, 2018
- Video: Israel pounds Gaza while Hamas fires rockets at Israel
References
- ^ a b c "In worst blaze to date, Gaza fire kites destroy vast parts of nature reserve". Timesofisrael.com.
- ^ a b "Massive flaming kite-caused fire rips through southern forest". Ynetnews.com. 6 March 2018.
- ^ "10 Staggering Images From the Gaza-Israel Border Violence". Haaretz.com. 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Three wounded as close to 200 projectiles fired at Israel from Gaza Strip". Jpost.com.
- ^ "Defense official: IDF officer's injury prompted Gaza escalation". Ynetnews.com. 14 July 2018.
- ^ "Israeli air raids kill two Palestinian teens in Gaza". Aljazeera.com.
- ^ "Environment and Climate in the Middle East - Kite terrorism's catastrophic damages revealed – YNET". Mideastenvironment.apps01.yorku.ca. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "UN Criticizes Israeli Closure of Gaza Border Crossing". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ "Israel halts flow of gas and fuel into Gaza". The Jerusalem Post.