A relative of a Palestinian Hamas militant reacts at a hospital in the central Gaza Strip January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli tank fired into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing a Hamas militant in what the army described as retaliation for the wounding of a soldier and a brief incursion during a violent Palestinian border protest.

An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also canceled a Qatari donation of $15 million for the impoverished enclave that had been due on Wednesday as part of international efforts to head off escalation.

The Gaza border has simmered since Palestinians launched weekly demonstrations last March to press for the lifting of an Israeli-led blockade on the impoverished territory and rights to family lands lost to Israel in the 1948 war of its foundation.

Palestinian medics in Gaza said a Hamas militant died and two others were wounded in the Israeli shelling of a lookout post near the fortified frontier in the central sector of the enclave ruled by the Islamist group.

Hamas confirmed the three casualties as its members.

Earlier on Tuesday, the army said in a statement, one of its officers was shot at as he faced Palestinian rock-throwers at the fence. The bullet struck his helmet, lightly injuring him, the army said, adding that during the incident two Palestinians also crossed into Israel before returning to Gaza.

Gaza’s health ministry says more than 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in 10 months of protests. Israel says it troops resort to lethal force to prevent border breaches by Hamas, against which it has fought three wars since 2008.

Worried about a potential flare-up into full conflict, Egypt and the United Nations have sought to calm Gaza, while Qatar in November pledged $150 million in donations, to be transferred via Israel over six months, in hope of easing economic pressure.

A third Qatari payout of $15 million was due on Wednesday, after it was previously held up by Israel in protest at border violence. An Israeli official, announcing the new postponement, did not say when the payout might now take place.</s>JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed a Palestinian militant and wounded four others shortly after an Israeli soldier was shot on the border of the coastal enclave, authorities said. Following the incident, Israel said it would halt a key transfer of Qatari funds to the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military said that an officer was lightly wounded after a bullet hit his helmet "during a riot in the southern Gaza Strip" and that Israeli tanks fired at a Hamas militant position in response.

The Gaza health ministry confirmed that the shelling killed a 24-year-old man and injured four people, one seriously.

Mahmoud al-Nabahin was a member of Hamas' armed wing known as the Qassam Brigades, the group said in a statement.

Later Tuesday, Israeli aircraft carried out multiple strikes on a Hamas military site in northern Gaza Strip, saying the Islamic group bears responsibility for violence emanating from the territory, Israel's military said in a statement. There were no reports of casualties.

The violence escalated tensions at a sensitive time for both Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel.

A senior Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to halt Wednesday's planned transfer of $15 million in Qatari funds for Hamas to pay salaries for civil servants. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Netanyahu has previously stipulated that the cash injection was contingent upon calm along the Gaza border.

For months, Hamas has held weekly protests along several sections of the Gaza-Israel perimeter fence, driven largely by economic hardship caused by the 11-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza.

Qatar, a go-between for Hamas and Israel, is trying to mitigate the crisis in Gaza and consequently quieting the protests to prevent an all-out war between Gaza militants and Israel.

Since they were launched in March, more than 185 Palestinians were killed in the demonstrations. An Israeli soldier was shot dead in July by a Gaza sniper.

Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion reported this story in Jerusalem and AP writer Fares Akram reported from Gaza.</s>JERUSALEM — Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip has left one Palestinian dead and two others wounded after an Israeli soldier was shot along the border of the coastal enclave.

The Israeli military said Tuesday that an officer was lightly wounded “during a riot in the southern Gaza Strip” and that Israeli tanks struck a Hamas militant position in response.

The Gaza health ministry confirmed that a 24-year-old man was killed and two others were wounded in the shelling.

Tuesday’s incident comes at a sensitive time for both Gaza’s Hamas rulers and Israel, which is about to allow Qatar to transfer a third batch of funds for Hamas to pay salaries for civil servants.

For months, Hamas has held weekly protests along the border, driven largely by economic hardship caused by the 11-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza.</s>Israel launched airstrikes, hitting a Hamas military training camp in Gaza, just hours after the latest tension at the border with Israel on Tuesday.

“Terrorists shot at our troops stationed along Israel’s border fence with Gaza several times throughout the day. In response, IDF fighter jets struck several terror sites in a Hamas military camp in the northern Gaza Strip,” said the IDF in a statement.

An Israeli officer was hurt by sniper fire along the border on Tuesday, with a Hamas terrorist killed in a counterattack by Israel. The Israeli military shut down areas near the border to civilian traffic, fearing more violence.

Additionally, Israel halted on Tuesday a previously approved $15 million transfer to Gaza from Qatar.

“Following the recent incidents in the Gaza Strip, and with consultation with security officials, [Israeli] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to allow the transfer of Qatari money to the Gaza Strip tomorrow,” an Israeli diplomatic official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist organizations were scheduled to meet on Tuesday evening to discuss “how to respond to the Israeli escalation,” reported Palestinian media.

A Hamas official told The Times of Israel that “Netanyahu’s decision to prevent their entry is a crime that will push Gaza toward an explosion.”

The $15 million in assistance from Qatar was to be the third installment approved by Israel’s government in what officials see as a way to ease tensions and avoid a potential humanitarian crisis in Gaza.</s>JERUSALEM—Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed a Palestinian militant and wounded four others shortly after an Israeli soldier was shot on the border of the coastal enclave, authorities said. Following the incident, Israel said it would halt a key transfer of Qatari funds to the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said that an officer was lightly wounded after a bullet hit his helmet “during a riot in the southern Gaza Strip” and that Israeli tanks struck a Hamas militant position in response.

The Gaza health ministry confirmed that a 24-year-old man was killed and four others were injured, one seriously, in the shelling. Mahmoud al-Nabahin was a member of Hamas’ armed wing known as the Qassam Brigades, the group said in a statement. The violence escalated tensions at a sensitive time for both Gaza’s Hamas rulers and Israel. A senior Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to halt Wednesday’s planned transfer of $15 million (U.S.) in Qatari funds for Hamas to pay salaries for civil servants. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

For months, Hamas has held weekly protests along several sections of the Gaza-Israel perimeter fence, driven largely by economic hardship caused by the 11-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza. Qatar, a go-between for Hamas and Israel, is trying to mitigate the crisis in Gaza and consequently quieting the protests to prevent an all-out war between Gaza militants and Israel. Since they were launched in March, more than 185 Palestinians were killed in the demonstrations. An Israeli soldier was shot dead in July by a Gaza sniper.</s>A relative of Hamas militant Mohammed al-Nabaheen, who Gaza officials said was killed by Israeli tank fire, reacts at a hospital in the enclave on January 22, 2019 (AFP Photo/SAID KHATIB)

Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Israeli tank shelling killed a Hamas militant along the Gaza border on Tuesday as Israel responded to gunfire that wounded one of its soldiers, officials said.

Those incidents and another exchange of fire earlier in the day signalled a rise in tensions as Israel blocked aid money to Gaza from Qatar over border unrest.

Mohammed al-Nabaheen, 24, was killed by tank fire while two other people were hurt, a Gaza health ministry spokesman said.

Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules Gaza, confirmed he was a member of its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

The Israeli army said it had targeted a Hamas observation post after a soldier was lightly wounded when a bullet struck his helmet.

In a statement, it said an initial investigation found "an assailant fired at troops" during a riot that included rock-hurling.

"A bullet struck the helmet of an IDF officer, lightly injuring him," it added, referring to the Israel Defence Forces.

A picture published by the army on social media showed the soldier's damaged helmet.

Earlier Tuesday, the army said shots were also fired at troops in a separate incident.

In response a tank targeted a Hamas military post without reports of any injuries.

An informal truce between Hamas and Israel had brought relative calm to the border in recent weeks.

But there were warnings of another escalation since Israel has held up the latest cash transfer from Gulf state Qatar to Gaza, set to take place under the truce.

The payments are controversial in Israel, where they have sparked opposition from right-wing activists and politicians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is campaigning for re-election in April 9 polls.

Qatar's ambassador to Gaza said Monday that the $15 million (13 million euros) in cash, to pay the salaries of Hamas civil servants in the enclave, was expected to be delivered via Israel this week, possibly on Wednesday.

But after the latest violence, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity that Netanyahu had decided not to allow the transfer on Wednesday.

Israel's permission is required since the cash must be delivered via its territory.

Hamas is labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union, and banks are hesitant to make the transfer.

The payment would be the third of six planned tranches, totalling $90 million, in connection with the truce.

Israel has also allowed deliveries of Qatari-financed fuel to the blockaded enclave to help ease a severe electricity shortage.

Mass protests and clashes erupted on the Gaza-Israel border in March last year.

The weekly protests have been calling for Palestinian refugees in Gaza to be able to return to their former homes now inside Israel.

Israel accuses Hamas of using the protests as cover to carry out violence.

At least 244 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since March, the majority during protests and clashes. Others have died in airstrikes or shelling.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed over the same period, one by a Palestinian sniper and another during a botched special forces operation inside Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.</s>JERUSALEM -- Israel said Tuesday that it has successfully tested the country's advanced missile-defense system capable of defending against long-range ballistic missile threats.

The announcement came on the same day that Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian militant and wounded four others.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured an Israeli aerospace facility after the missile-defense test and leveled a warning just days after Israel struck Iranian military targets in neighboring Syria.

"Our enemies who seek to destroy us should know that Israel's clenched fist will reach all those who wish ill upon us and we will settle accounts with them," Netanyahu said.

The Defense Ministry said the successful test of the Arrow-3 interceptor is "a major milestone" in Israel's ability to defend itself "against current and future threats in the region." It comes a couple of days after Israel thwarted an Iranian missile attack.

Tensions are mounting between Israel and Iran along Israel's northern border with Syria. Israel is concerned about Iran establishing military bases in Syria as the eight-year civil war there winds down.

On Monday, Israel claimed responsibility for a series of air raids against Iranian military targets near the Syrian capital, Damascus, hours after Israel intercepted a missile launched by Iranian forces at the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. The missile launch followed a rare Israeli daytime attack on Syria on Sunday near the Damascus airport.

Arrow-3, which intercepts missiles outside the atmosphere, is part of the multilayered system Israel is developing to defend against both short- and midrange rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon, as well as Iran's long-range missiles. It includes Iron Dome, David's Sling, and the Arrow-2 systems.

Arrow-3 was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and U.S. aviation giant Boeing and became operational in January 2017.

Israel has already deployed Arrow to counter Syrian missiles.

Israel's conventional defenses were cited in the killing of a Palestinian militant on the border of the Gaza Strip near the Mediterranean coast.

The Israeli military said that an Israeli officer was lightly wounded after a bullet hit his helmet "during a riot in the southern Gaza Strip," and that Israeli tanks struck a Hamas militant position in response.

The Gaza health ministry confirmed that a 24-year-old man was killed and four others were injured, one seriously, in the shelling.

The man, Mahmoud al-Nabahin, was a member of Hamas' armed wing known as the Qassam Brigades, the group said in a statement.

A senior Israeli official said that Netanyahu has since decided to halt today's planned transfer of $15 million in Qatari funds for Hamas to pay salaries for civil servants. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Netanyahu has previously stipulated that the cash injection was contingent upon calm along the Gaza border.

For months, Hamas has held weekly protests along several sections of the Gaza-Israel perimeter fence, driven largely by economic hardship linked to the 11-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza.

Qatar, a go-between for Hamas and Israel, is trying to mitigate the crisis in Gaza and consequently quieting the protests to prevent an all-out war between Gaza militants and Israel.

Since the protests started in March, more than 185 Palestinians have been killed in the demonstrations. An Israeli soldier was shot dead in July by a Gaza sniper.

Information for this article was contributed by staff members of The Associated Press.</s>JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli fighter jets hit multiple terror targets in the Gaza Strip Tuesday night after two violent border clashes with Hamas earlier in the day wounded an IDF soldier.

"Throughout the day, IDF troops were targeted in several shooting incidents along the Gaza Strip security fence.

In response, IDF troops conducted strikes throughout the day," the army said in a statement. "The IDF is prepared and ready to act against any terrorist action from the Gaza Strip and is determined to defend the citizens of the State of Israel."

A sniper in Gaza reportedly hit and lightly wounded an IDF soldier during one of the clashes. The IDF tweeted a picture of the bullet's damage.

"Pictured: An IDF officer's helmet after a terrorist in #Gaza shot at him during a riot on Israel's border fence. Also pictured: Proof that Hamas sends ARMED terrorists to attack Israelis, while surrounded by civilians and under the guise of 'protests,'" the army said.

The IDF immediately responded to the shooting by destroying a Hamas observation post, killing one terrorist and wounding two others.

The wounded IDF soldier was taken to Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center for treatment. He was released hours later.

In addition to Israel's aerial strikes on the Gaza strip Tuesday night, Israel has blocked a previously approved $15 million transfer from Qatar to Hamas terrorists.

"Following the recent incidents in the Gaza Strip, and with consultation with security officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to allow the transfer of Qatari money to the Gaza Strip tomorrow," an Israeli diplomatic official told The Times of Israel.

The money was expected to reach Hamas on Wednesday and is intended to fund Hamas' mission to destroy the Jewish State.

Hamas warned that Israel's decision to block the terror funds will result in an "explosion" in Gaza.

While Hamas blames "Israeli aggression" for the border clashes, the IDF places the blame on Hamas.

"The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for all acts of aggression originating from the Gaza Strip and emanating from it," the army said in a statement.</s>GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli tank fired into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing a Hamas militant in what the army described as retaliation for the wounding of a soldier and a brief incursion during a violent Palestinian border protest.

An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also canceled a Qatari donation of $15 million for the impoverished enclave that had been due on Wednesday as part of international efforts to head off escalation.

The Gaza border has simmered since Palestinians launched weekly demonstrations last March to press for the lifting of an Israeli-led blockade on the impoverished territory and rights to family lands lost to Israel in the 1948 war of its foundation.

Palestinian medics in Gaza said a Hamas militant died and two others were wounded in the Israeli shelling of a lookout post near the fortified frontier in the central sector of the enclave ruled by the Islamist group.

Hamas confirmed the three casualties as its members.

Earlier on Tuesday, the army said in a statement, one of its officers was shot at as he faced Palestinian rock-throwers at the fence. The bullet struck his helmet, lightly injuring him, the army said, adding that during the incident two Palestinians also crossed into Israel before returning to Gaza.

Gaza’s health ministry says more than 220 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in 10 months of protests. Israel says it troops resort to lethal force to prevent border breaches by Hamas, against which it has fought three wars since 2008.

Worried about a potential flare-up into full conflict, Egypt and the United Nations have sought to calm Gaza, while Qatar in November pledged $150 million in donations, to be transferred via Israel over six months, in hope of easing economic pressure.

A third Qatari payout of $15 million was due on Wednesday, after it was previously held up by Israel in protest at border violence. An Israeli official, announcing the new postponement, did not say when the payout might now take place.</s>JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli shelling of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed a Palestinian militant and wounded four others shortly after an Israeli soldier was shot on the border of the coastal enclave, authorities said. Following the incident, Israel said it would halt a key transfer of Qatari funds to the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military said that an officer was lightly wounded after a bullet hit his helmet "during a riot in the southern Gaza Strip" and that Israeli tanks fired at a Hamas militant position in response.

The Gaza health ministry confirmed that the shelling killed a 24-year-old man and injured four people, one seriously.

Mahmoud al-Nabahin was a member of Hamas' armed wing known as the Qassam Brigades, the group said in a statement.

Later Tuesday, Israeli aircraft carried out multiple strikes on a Hamas military site in northern Gaza Strip, saying the Islamic group bears responsibility for violence emanating from the territory, Israel's military said in a statement. There were no reports of casualties.

The violence escalated tensions at a sensitive time for both Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel.

A senior Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to halt Wednesday's planned transfer of $15 million in Qatari funds for Hamas to pay salaries for civil servants. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Netanyahu has previously stipulated that the cash injection was contingent upon calm along the Gaza border.

For months, Hamas has held weekly protests along several sections of the Gaza-Israel perimeter fence, driven largely by economic hardship caused by the 11-year Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza.

Qatar, a go-between for Hamas and Israel, is trying to mitigate the crisis in Gaza and consequently quieting the protests to prevent an all-out war between Gaza militants and Israel.

Since they were launched in March, more than 185 Palestinians were killed in the demonstrations. An Israeli soldier was shot dead in July by a Gaza sniper.

Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion reported this story in Jerusalem and AP writer Fares Akram reported from Gaza.
A Hamas militant is killed and two others are injured when an Israeli tank fires into the Gaza Strip after a protest turned violent. The Israel Defense Forces action is retaliation for a shooting which lightly injured an officer, and for the brief incursion of two Palestinians into Israel.