Drop Rockets From Gaza, Israel Carries Out Air Strikes On Hamas Camps And Weapons-Making Sites

Illustration of a rocket attack from Gaza. (Wikimedia Commons/paffairs_sanfrancisco)

JAKARTA - Tensions continue to rise between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound last Friday, with Jordan voicing strong criticism.

Israel shot down a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Monday, the country's military said, the first strike in months as tensions over Jerusalem's holy site fueled pro-Palestinian rhetoric.

No Gaza faction has claimed responsibility for the launch, which followed warnings by the Islamist group Hamas, of retaliation for Israel's actions around Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque compound.

Within hours, Israeli airstrikes hit camps used by Hamas and other Gaza factions, Palestinian sources said. The military said one target was a weapons manufacturing site. No one was hurt.

It is known that Israeli police and Palestinians have been involved in clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound since Friday. Palestinians accuse Israel of encroaching on Al Aqsa during the holy month of Ramadan.

At least 152 Palestinians and eight policemen were injured around Al Aqsa during confrontations on Friday, medics said.

Meanwhile, Israel says Palestinian protesters are trying to disrupt Muslim prayers for political purposes and to prevent visits by Jews, who now celebrate Passover.

Recent tensions have complicated Israel's security ties with Jordan, which is Al Aqsa's custodian and has a Palestinian majority.

Jordan's King Abdullah told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Israel's Al Aqsa policy severely damaged its chances of making peace with the Palestinians, Amman said. Jordan also summoned the acting Israeli Ambassador to rebuke.

Separately, Jordanian PM Bisher al-Khasawneh told parliament: "I must commend, those who throw stones at all the Zionists who desecrate the Al Aqsa mosque with the protection of the Israeli occupation government."

Several passengers were injured when the Israeli bus they were traveling on to Jerusalem's Old City was stoned by Palestinians on Sunday, police said, adding Al Aqsa protesters had piled up stones for attacks on Jewish visitors and police.

"I take a heavy look at the statements blaming Israel for the violence we have experienced. Some encourage stone-throwing," Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a video statement released after al-Khasawneh television's statement.

"This is a gift to the instigators, Hamas above all, who are trying to incite violence here in Jerusalem."

In Washington, the State Department said US officials engaged in phone calls with Israeli, Palestinian and Arab representatives over the weekend, in an effort to prevent an escalation of Jerusalem tensions, according to State Department spokesman Ned Price.