Israel carried out a series of airstrikes in Gaza early Thursday morning in apparent response to rocket fire and anti-aircraft missiles launched from Palestinian territory.
In the largest exchange of fire since 2021, Israel Defense Forces hit a Hamas-held military post and an underground facility used to manufacture rocket engines in the Gaza Strip, an attack that “will lead to significant damage to missile production in the Strip,” an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said, according to the Forward.
Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system was activated around 2 a.m. to what was believed to be four rockets fired from a Hamas-run enclave, though the army later clarified that only one rocket had been fired, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Shrapnel from a rocket launched into the city of Sderot hit a parked car and a wall near a home.
MORE THAN 150 INJURED IN VIOLENT CLASHES AT JERUSALEM HOLY SITE
More footage of Iron Dome interceptions over Sderot pic.twitter.com/MP1RcxbScJ
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 20, 2022
On Tuesday, Hamas launched several anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli jets as they conducted airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Israel did not report any damage to its aircraft, according to the outlet.
Hamas said the airstrikes would incite Palestinians to “resist the occupation and step up their support for Jerusalem and its people,” according to Reuters.
Conflict has escalated in the past few weeks on the convergence of several major religious periods, including the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish celebration of Passover.
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Violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police broke out earlier this month at a Jerusalem holy site, injuring at least 150 people as police fought to disperse a crowd of Palestinians.
