GAZA CITY: An Israeli strike killed a Palestinian Hamas fighter in Gaza on Thursday, officials in the strip said, after Israel said one of its aircraft targeted a group launching balloons carrying firebombs.

Three other people were wounded east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, the health ministry in the enclave said, naming the dead man as Abdul Kareem Radwan.

Hamas hailed him as a fighter, saying he was killed on a small base near the border.

Such bases are close to where young Palestinians attach incendiary devices to kites and balloons and fly them over the border into Israel, seeking to spark fires.

Following the incident, Israel’s army said Palestinians launched mortar shells at soldiers near the border fence, causing no injuries.

The military said it later targeted a Hamas observation point with tank fire in response to “projectiles” fired.

Israel has pledged a tougher response to the balloons and kites, which Palestinians have been launching for months.

Israel’s fire service says hundreds of fires have caused damage amounting to millions of shekels (hundreds of thousands of dollars or euros).

The military has opened fire at or near those launching the devices in recent days, but Thursday marked the first time someone was killed in such strikes.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2018