The Palestinian terrorist organization launched repeated missile attacks on Israel from Gaza and southern Lebanon toward Israel.
By Jonathan Hessen and Erin Viner
Terrorists in the Islamist Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip fired rockets at Israel for the second consecutive day in support of efforts by Islamist extremists to incite violence in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Riot police were forced to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount over the past two nights, after gangs of Arab youth barricaded themselves inside with rocks and fireworks to shoot at those attempting to enter.
Two rockets were indiscriminately launched at southern Israeli towns yesterday; one of which fell short and exploded in an uninhabited area in Gaza while the second hit an open area near security barrier with Israel. No injuries or damage were reported.
Early this morning, seven surface-to-air ‘shoulder-propelled’ missiles were fired from Gaza, five of which headed toward Israel and two in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea. All of the projectiles exploded mid-air and no injuries or damage were reported.
Hamas terrorists in Lebanon, meanwhile, fired 34 missiles at Israel’s northwestern Galilee region, where hundreds of thousands of residents were forces to rush into bomb shelters.
The first salvo of rockets was launched at 2:42 PM, earlier today – when militants launched a total of 34 rockets from agricultural groves south of the Lebanese city of Tyre toward Israel’s northern communities.
According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, 25 of the incoming projectiles were successfully intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense array, while four projectiles exploded in uninhabited areas.
Moreover, one projectile reportedly exploded next to a bank in the northern border-community of Shlomi – and while damage was caused to the structure, thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Nevertheless, as a result of falling debris from interceptors which destroyed the barrage of incoming hostile projectiles, two Israelis sustained very light injuries – while a third Israeli was treated for shock.
It is important to note that four rockets which were fired from Lebanon remain unaccounted for as they may have failed to cross into Israeli territory.
While it has been assessed that Palestinian factions in Lebanon were responsible for the rocket fire and that the Iranian terror-proxy Hezbollah may have not been directly involved but turned a blind eye to the attacks.
An Israeli security official underscored to TV7 that while Israel is obliged to react to the blatant attack against its territory and citizens, it is not interested in war.
Nevertheless, the official stressed “if Hezbollah would err by thinking that it could change the equation vis-à-vis Israel – all hell will break lose and (group leader) Hassan Nasrallah’s bunker may well turn into his tombstone.”
The Islamist Hamas organization and Iranian-proxy Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group are waging an intense incitement campaign in attempts to instigate unrest in Jerusalem.
Hamas Spokesman Hazem Qassem claimed that the “assault” by Israeli forces on Muslim worshippers “is a crime and is a violation of all human rights and laws,” while threatening “our people will not let this pass without a response” and that his group “will remain to function as a shield to our people in Jerusalem and the blessed Aqsa mosque.”
The violence in Jerusalem has also provoked a strong regional response.
Several hundreds of Jordanians gathered outside of the Al-Kalouti Mosque near Israel’s Embassy in Amman to insist the Hashemite Kingdom sever diplomatic ties with the Jewish State over what they called ‘Israel’s illegitimate rule over Jerusalem and desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.’
Similarly in Turkey, scores of protesters rallied outside Israel’s diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul to voice outrage over alleged “atrocities” committed by Jerusalem police.
Despite clear knowledge of the true nature of events, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan further fueled fury toward Israel by denouncing alleged “terror actions” by police against Palestinian Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.
“The name of this is the politics of repression, the politics of blood, the politics of provocation. Turkey can never remain silent and unmoved in the face of these attacks. Putting a hand on Al-Aqsa Mosque and trampling on the sanctity of the Harem al-Sharif is a red line for us,” declared Erdogan, continuing, “Our Palestinian brothers and sisters, who defend Jerusalem with their lives when necessary, are not alone. I condemn the vile acts against the first qibla of Muslims in the name of my country and people, and I call for the attacks to be halted as soon as possible.”
It is important to note that while the Turkish president has championed normalization between Israel and Turkey over the past several years, he must nevertheless remain mindful that major bloc of his supporters who do not view the Jewish State positively – particularly ahead of general elections on 14 May.