Hamas slams Israel for bombing Gaza military sites

GAZA/RAMALLAH, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement, which rules the Palestinian Gaza Strip, condemned on Wednesday an earlier Israeli bombardment targeting military posts in the coastal enclave.

The bombardment reflects the state of confusion Israel is experiencing because of the anti-Israel mass marches that demand the return of Palestinian refugees to their lands, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a press statement.

The resistance will remain the shield in face of occupation, Barhoum added.

Well-informed sources in Gaza said the Israeli artillery targeted a monitoring point east of Gaza City belonging to Hamas military wing.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army confirmed that it struck a number of Hamas military posts after a bomb exploded near Gaza fence.

According to an army statement, the explosive device, which caused no casualties, was implanted near the fence during rallies along the borders.

Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have launched a six-week long protest along the Gaza borders with Israel on March 30.

The protest, dubbed the "Great March of Return," demands Israel to acknowledge Palestinian refugees' right to return to their lands before the 1948 war, known also as Israel's Independence War.

The protests are expected to culminate next month, when Israel will mark its 70th Independence Day and the Palestinians will commemorate the Nakba Day, or "Day of the Catastrophe."

Dozens of Palestinians were killed by Israeli military gunfire and thousands were injured during the weekend marches towards the fence. Enditem