Israel conducts airstrikes on Gaza claiming 36 rocket attacks came from region, Netanyahu says to 'prepare for any scenario'

Sputnik
Sat, 24 Apr 2021 19:14 UTC

© REUTERS / AMIR COHEN

Starting late Friday, 36 rockets, according to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), were fired towards Israel from the territory of the Gaza Strip throughout the night. The IDF, in response to the reported attacks, conducted strikes against alleged Hamas targets.

Late Saturday, red alert sirens went off for the second night in a row in southern Israel, triggered by a rocket launch from Gaza, according to the IDF. The rocket exploded near the Israel-Gaza security fence.

Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza.

According to the IDF, the launch was conducted from a civilian area in Gaza. The Times of Israel said that the launch of the rocket came from the area of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza.

The launch was captured by an Israeli security cam.

The fresh wave of attacks follows Friday's overnight fighting, after a reported 36 rockets were launched toward Israeli territories, with six, according to the IDF, intercepted by the Iron Dome system. Responding to the attacks, the IDF conducted military strikes against alleged Hamas targets.

Following Friday's overnight attacks, at a Saturday afternoon meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said to "prepare for any scenario" in relation to Gaza.

The remarks were made after an urgent security meeting at the Israel Defence Forces' headquarters in Tel Aviv, with IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi, Defence Minister Benny Gantz, Minister of Public Security Amir Ohana, and other senior officials.

IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi has delayed his visit to US "in light of the events and expected developments".

Situation in Jerusalem

The attacks come amid soaring tensions between Israelis and Palestinians who have been participating in nightly clashes since the beginning of Ramadan. Tensions have escalated of late because Israeli police have reportedly been preventing worshippers from sitting on the stairs outside the Damascus Gate close to Jerusalem's Old City. The ban on worshipping outside the Damascus Gate is said to be a part of coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

A further escalation followed recent reports of Arabs or people with Arab accents being attacked in Jerusalem. These reports came after a series of attacks against Jews that were filmed and shown on TikTok.

According to the Israeli media, clashes broke out again between Palestinians and law enforcement on Saturday.

​At a press conference earlier in the day, Israeli Police Commissioner Kobi Shabta, announced that reinforcements had been sent to Jerusalem, while denouncing "extremists from both sides", according to The Times of Israel.

Comment: Sputnik reports that a protest of 700 Palestinians eruped on the Gaza border amidst the unrest:

Israeli media reported that an estimated 700 Palestinians have been protesting near the closed Karni crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip, with the IDF reportedly using flares and stun grenades to contain people without giving them a chance to get close to the security fence.

Video allegedly showing the IDF firing flares near the security fence was shared on Twitter.

Mass demonstrations were reported throughout the Gaza Strip, as thousands of Gazans hit the streets to express support for the Palestinians who live in Jerusalem. Photos and video said to have been taken in different parts of Gaza were shared on social media.

Protests also took place across the West Bank, where people marched to Israeli checkpoints, including Jenin's Jalameh checkpoint, Nablus's Huwarra checkpoint and Hebron's Bab al-Zawiyeh.

Around one hundred Palestinians were reported protesting near the Qalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). According to The Times of Israel, citing a spokesperson for the border police, "rioters" were using firebombs, stones, and fireworks, while police were responding with "riot dispersal means".

Meanwhile, a new series of encounters between Palestinians and Israeli police has started at the Damascus Gate outside Jerusalem's Old City. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, six Palestinians were hurt during clashes at the gate. According to The Times of Israel, two police offciers were injured during a rock-throwing incident in East Jerusalem and one was hit in the face in the Old City.

PNA President Mahmoud Abbas is set to chair a meeting of Fatah's Executive Committee on Sunday to discuss the ongoing dynamics.

"This meeting will discuss the dangerous events in Jerusalem, and to review the movement's preparations for the electoral process, especially in the context of the Palestinian leadership's insistence that there will be no elections without Jerusalem," Fatah Central Committee member Sabri Saydam said, cited by The Times of Israel.

Palestinians are preparing for their first general elections in 15 years. The parliament elections in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are set to take place on May 22, with the presidential election scheduled for July 31.

See also:

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