Israeli warplanes strike Gaza in response to missile attack

According to Reuters, Israel carried out airstrikes in central Gaza before dawn on April 21, after a rocket launched from Palestinian territory hit Israeli territory, according to sources from Hamas and Israeli military sources. .

The Israeli military said the combat aircrafts Israel attacked a security post and part of an underground site used to manufacture rocket engines. However, no casualties on the Hamas side were reported.

Earlier, a rocket fired from Gaza hit southern Israel, causing minor damage to a house but no injuries. Neither side claimed responsibility for the attack for days.

Rising violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has raised concerns about the possibility of a broader conflict erupting again in the region.

Since March, Israeli forces have killed at least 29 Palestinians in raids in the West Bank. Israel also suffered from a series of deadly street attacks that left 14 people dead.

In a statement, a Hamas representative said the Israeli attack would only encourage Palestinians to “resist the occupation”.

Confronts in the Old City of Jerusalem, especially at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, which Jews call the Temple Mount, could lead to a conflict as wide as the 11-day war between Israel. and forces in Gaza last year. During this conflict, more than 250 Palestinians in Gaza and 13 in Israel were killed.

Tensions between Israel have been heightened in part because the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincides with the Jewish Passover. Israel has allowed more Jews to enter the holy site, leading Palestinians to believe it is violating a centuries-old rule that non-Muslims can visit the site without permission. pray. Israeli leaders say they are ensuring freedom of worship for all religions in Jerusalem.

Al-Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam and is also revered by Jews. Palestinians want East Jerusalemwhich includes Muslim, Christian and Jewish holy sites, is the capital of a future nation.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally after capturing the area in the 1967 war, and has made all of Jerusalem its capital.