Tensions were high in Israel and Gaza on Wednesday after the Israeli air force launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip in the early hours of the morning.
The strikes were launched after militants in the Palestinian territory sent incendiary balloons into southern Israel, security sources and witnesses said.
The retaliation was the first major flare-up between Israel and Gaza since a ceasefire on May 21 ended 11 days of heavy fighting that killed 260 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel.
Palestinian sources say Israel's air force hit at least one site east of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hamas released images on its social media channels showing more incendiary balloons being sent into Israel, increasing the risk of further Israeli air strikes.
The Israeli authorities said that in response to the "arson balloons", on Tuesday, its "fighter jets struck military compounds belonging to the Hamas terror organisation".
It said "facilities and meeting sites for terror operatives" in Khan Younis were the targets.
About 1,000 apartments, offices and shops were destroyed in the latest round of fighting in May in Gaza, an impoverished enclave of two million inhabitants controlled by the Hamas group.
Wednesday's strikes were Israel's first against Gaza since a new coalition government took over on Sunday night, removing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after 12 years in power.
The incendiary balloons, which local firefighters said caused about 20 fires in southern Israel, were sent as more than 1,000 ultra-nationalist demonstrators bearing Israeli flags poured into Jerusalem's Old City on Tuesday.
Prior to Wednesday morning's air strikes, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that his group had scored another victory against Israel by forcing Israeli police to change the route of the flag march and placing the Israeli army on high alert, forcing an emergency deployment of the Iron Dome anti-rocket battery.
The Israeli military later released a statement saying they were preparing for any eventuality including, "a return to hostilities" in Gaza.
The US and UN had called for restraint before the march, which was authorised by the government of new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
A large police contingent blocked roads and fired stun grenades and foam-tipped bullets to remove Palestinians from the main route of the march.
Medics said 33 Palestinians were wounded and police said two officers were injured and 17 people arrested.
Hamas had threatened reprisals over the march, which celebrated the anniversary of Israel capturing East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967.
It later annexed it in a move not recognised by most of the international community.
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
