Israeli Fire Kills 7 Palestinians during Gaza Raid

The Israeli incursion and air attacks drew rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled enclave, with sirens sounding in Israeli communities along the border. The Israeli military claimed its defenses intercepted two of the launches. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage on the Israeli side of the frontier.

The violence prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut short a visit to Paris, where he had been gathering with world leaders for a World War One commemoration.

Israeli aircraft fired more than 40 missiles in the area, according to witnesses, Reuters reported.

Medics said at least seven people were killed, mostly civilians. Among those killed was also Hamas commander Nour Baraka.

This is not the first time Hamas officials come under Israeli attack. The regime has assassinated many figures with the Palestinian group.

Last March, Tel Aviv assassinated Mazen Fuqaha, one of the group’s senior figures, in Gaza City, the Gaza Strip. The victim was shot with four bullets to his head.

In 2010, Israel had itself been embroiled in an international scandal when its operatives used false European and Australian passports to assassinate senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in the United Arab Emirates.

The killing and the circumstances surrounding it also raised suspicions of complicity by Emirati intelligence and other services in the assassination.

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