Israel, Hamas exchange heavy fire

Israel and Hamas exchanged heavy fire yesterday, with 22 Palestinians killed in Gaza, in a dramatic escalation between the bitter rivals sparked by unrest at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Nine children were among those killed in the blockaded Gaza Strip that is controlled by the group and 106 people there were wounded, local health authorities said.

More than 200 rockets have been fired towards Israel since Monday, with over 90% intercepted by its Iron

Dome missile defence system, army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said. Six Israelis have been injured. Israel has responded with 130 strikes carried out by fighter jets and helicopters on military targets in the enclave, killing 15 commanders from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group, Conricus told reporters.

More rockets were launched from the coastal enclave yesterday, as Hamas’ Qassam Brigades armed wing vowed it would turn the southern Israeli community of Ashkelon into “a hell”.

Conricus listed the sites hit by Israel as weapons manufacturing and storage facilities, training areas and the home of a Hamas commander, among other targets.

Hamas on Monday warned Israel to withdraw all its forces from the Al-Aqsa compound and the east Jerusalem district of Sheikh Jarrah, where looming evictions of Palestinian families have fuelled angry protests.

Diplomatic sources said Egypt and Qatar were attempting to calm tensions. – AFP