New exchanges of fire between Israel and Palestinian armed groups
Israeli missiles intercept missiles fired from the Gaza Strip over the Palestinian enclave on April 21, 2022. AFP - SAID KHATIB
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Palestinian armed groups launched rockets towards Jewish territory.
In retaliation, the Israeli army carried out a series of airstrikes against this territory controlled by Hamas.
Exchanges of fire which take place against the backdrop of tensions linked to the holy places in Jerusalem, thus raising fears of a new military escalation.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem
,
Sami Boukhelifa
The sirens sounded several times during the night from Thursday to Friday in Israeli localities near the Gaza Strip.
This is the second firefight in a week.
But neither side really wants to embark on
a new war.
These are more messages addressed to each other.
The first rocket fired from Gaza last night also crashed in a field, causing no injuries.
Tensions around holy sites
Israel reacted immediately.
Its warplanes carried out strikes in the center of the Palestinian enclave.
“
Military positions, and the entrance to a tunnel leading to an underground complex, where chemicals used to propel rockets are stored, were targeted
”, explains the army.
"
These strikes on the Gaza Strip will increase the determination of our people and the resistance (...) to defend our holy places in Jerusalem, regardless of the sacrifices
," the spokesperson said in a statement. of Hamas, Hazem Qassem.
All this comes as
the situation is very tense in Jerusalem
.
Clashes oppose Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli police on the Esplanade of the Mosques.
The third holiest site in Islam is a red line, says Hamas.
Called Temple Mount by the Jews, the place is also sacred in Judaism.
In this month of Ramadan and in order to ease tensions, Israel announced on Wednesday that it would close
the Esplanade of mosques to non-Muslims for ten days.
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Jerusalem
Israel
Palestinian territories