Palestinian gov’t blames Israel for Gaza violence

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH (AA) – The Ramallah-based Palestinian government on Tuesday held Israel responsible for the eruption of violence in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

“The occupation government is dragging the region into further dangers and tensions,” government spokesman Youssef al-Mahmoud said in a statement.

He warned the Israeli government against committing “new massacres against the Palestinian people”.

At least four Palestinians were killed in renewed Israeli attacks in Gaza on Monday following rocket fire from the seaside territory.

The Israeli army said more than 20 people were injured by rocket fire from Gaza.

Monday’s attacks came one day after seven Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in an undercover Israeli operation in the blockaded enclave.

Since March, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more injured by Israeli army fire during protests demanding the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral home in what is now Israel.