KHAN YUNIS, Sept 9: Loud explosions rattled the southern Gaza Strip’s Gush Katif settlement bloc on Friday morning as the Israeli army started to demolish the estimated 20 synagogues in the occupied territory. “We started late Thursday night and we want to finish early this morning,” said military spokesman Shlomo Dror.

Three thunderous explosions emanated pre-dawn on Friday from the Gush Katif bloc, home to 15 settlements where soldiers have been dynamiting buildings for the last two weeks.

Israel’s Supreme Court on Thursday gave the green light for the army to destroy all synagogues in Gaza, paving the way for the imminent pullout of all troops from the territory.—AFP