Palestinian rocket strikes Israel, drawing Israeli reprisal

A flotilla of two vessels called the “women’s boat to Gaza” left Barcelona for the troubled territory on Wednesday as part of an effort to find a way through the Israel-imposed blockade.

Of the 3.5 billion dollars pledged by the global community in 2014 to help rebuild Gaza in the wake of a devastating Israeli offensive, only 46 percent has so far been delivered, with donor aid for Gaza being 1.3 billion dollars behind the schedule.

A second strike also targeted a Qassam center in the Shaima’ area, northwest of Beit Lahia, causing excessive damage.

Meanwhile, in Gaza city Israeli forces targeted a site allegedly used by the al-Qassam brigades in the eastern part of the city.

The World Bank said on Thursday that less than half the money pledged by donors to rebuild the Gaza Strip after the 2014 war between Hamas and Israel has been disbursed.

According to The Times of Israel, the mortar shell exploded near the border with Israel.

The report will be delivered to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, a forum of donors to the Palestinian Authority, in NY next week.

An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed in a statement at the time that both the Israeli air force and artillery tanks targeted two alleged Hamas posts in northern Gaza, where they claimed the rocket was sacked from.

The Israel Defense Forces “sees the terrorist organization Hamas as exclusively responsible for what takes place in the Gaza Strip and will continue to act severely in order to maintain quiet in the southern communities”, the IDF said in a statement.