Israel launched deadly air strikes on Gaza Monday in response to a barrage of rockets fired by Hamas and other Palestinian militants, amid spiraling violence sparked by unrest at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
By any scale, the intense fighting going on in Jerusalem is only one step away from becoming all out war, which it very well may be by the time the sun rises over the middle east tomorrow morning. Hamas wants war with Israel and it looks like they're going to get it, already 20 Hamas militants have been killed in retaliatory strikes.
"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." Zechariah 12:2, 3 (KJB)
These types of events are not unusual for the Temple Mount, as they have been going on for years, but this time some things have changed. For one, the Abraham Accords now exist between Israel and a nice handful of Muslim nations, and two, the United States has a 'president' that is very pro-Palestinian, and wants very much to be the one who creates the Two State Solution. If the tensions and terrors currently going on on the Temple Mount do advance to war, then it is highly likely the Two State Solution will rise up from the ashes.
Twenty killed - including nine children - as Israel launches air strikes in Gaza in response to Hamas firing rockets towards Jerusalem after clashes in the Holy City left hundreds injured
FROM THE DAILY MAIL UK: At least 20 people were killed, including nine children and a senior Hamas commander, and 65 others wounded, Gaza authorities said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hamas had crossed a 'red line' by directing missiles towards Jerusalem and that the Jewish state would 'respond with force'.
'We will not tolerate attacks on our territory, our capital, our citizens and our soldiers. Those who attack us will pay a heavy price.'
Israel's army said 150 rockets had been launched from Gaza, dozens of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome Aerial Defence System, with no casualties reported. The Israeli military said it had targeted 'two rocket launchers, two military posts', a tunnel and eight Hamas operatives in Gaza. Hamas sources confirmed that one of their commanders, Mohammed Fayyad, had been killed
Mr Netanyahu added on Monday: 'Whoever attacks us will pay a heavy price,' he said, warning that the fighting could 'continue for a while.'
Hamas, a militant group which controls the Gaza Strip, had earlier issued a 6pm ultimatum for Israel to withdraw security forces from the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem. The rockets were fired after the deadline lapsed. It follows days of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces around the mosque that began on Friday and have continued since. Fighting today saw at least 700 Palestinians hurt, including 500 taken to hospital.
Some 21 police were hurt, including one seriously, the Israeli security services said.
Speaking of the Israeli response to Hamas's rocket attacks, army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said on Monday evening: 'We have started, and I repeat started, to attack military targets in Gaza.
'We have made preparations for various scenarios, including high intensity ones... Hamas will get the message.'
Diplomatic sources told AFP that Egypt and Qatar, who have mediated past Israeli-Hamas conflicts, were attempting to calm tensions In perhaps the most serious incident of clashes today, CCTV captured the moment crowds of Palestinians pelted a car driving near Jerusalem's Old City with rocks before the Israeli driver accelerated on to the pavement - sending people flying.
People continued to pelt the driver after the car came to a halt, suspended on a nearby wall, before a gun-waving police officer arrived. The officer helped the man from the car, before he was again attacked by a pedestrian. Police then cancelled a right-wing Israeli march that was due to pass through the Old City and its Muslim Quarter in an effort to calm tensions. The fighting has drawn calls for de-escalation from the international community and sharp rebukes from across the Muslim world.
In Washington, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration, including President Joe Biden himself, was monitoring the violence.
'We have serious concerns about the situation, including violent confrontations that we've seen over the last few days,' she told reporters. The U.S. Embassy in Israel said the rocket fire was 'unacceptable.'
The Israeli military said well over 50 rockets were fired into Israel throughout the evening, most of them aimed at southern Israeli towns near the border. Lieutenant Colonel Conricus said six rockets were aimed at Jerusalem, some 60 miles (100 kilometers) away. It was believed to be the first rocket attack on the city since a 2014 war.
Shortly after the sirens sounded, explosions could be heard in Jerusalem. One rocket fell on the western outskirts of the city, lightly damaging a home and causing a brush fire. The Israeli army said one rocket was intercepted and the others fell in open areas. Israel then responded with airstrikes on Hamas targets throughout Gaza. READ MORE
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