The Israeli army bombed the Gaza Strip again from Wednesday night until Thursday after a missile was launched towards Israel from the Palestinian enclave last night. This was reported by eyewitnesses and sources within the security services. Israel reported that several rockets were subsequently fired from the Gaza Strip.
Earlier this evening, it was announced that a rocket had been launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel for the second time in a week. Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense intercepted the first missile on Monday, and Wednesday’s missile ended up reaching Israeli territory. Israel responded twice with air strikes. Witnesses said Wednesday’s bombing focused on the central Gaza Strip.
Shortly after news of the Israeli bombing was received, the Israeli army reported that at least four more rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip. All of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
“Red line”
A spokesman for Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip, had earlier warned that any incident at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem would mean crossing a “red line”. The Islamic Resistance Movement accused Israel of tolerating attacks on believers. Hamas said in a press statement that “the attacks on the Gaza Strip will increase the determination of our people and the resistance to defend our holy sites in Jerusalem, regardless of the sacrifices.”
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that Hamas is engaged in a vicious smear campaign. “This is the truth. Israel is doing everything in its power so that we can safely enjoy our holidays, Jews, Muslims and Christians.”
The rocket fire and explosions come after a weekend of rioting between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police officers at the Temple Mount, the third holiest site for Muslims and the main holy site for Jews.
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