1 000 rockets fired in Gaza

Jerusalem – Palestinian militants in Gaza have fired more than 1 000 rockets towards Israel since Monday evening, when hostilities escalated dramatically following days of unrest in Jerusalem, the Israeli army said.

Army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told reporters yesterday morning that the figures related to the barrage that began at roughly 6pm on Monday, when Hamas Islamist launched rockets towards Jerusalem, causing tensions to soar.

Since then, 850 rockets launched by various armed groups in Gaza have landed in Israel or been intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system.

Another 200 have landed inside Gaza. The Israeli army also announced it had intercepted a Hamas drone early yesterday.

Israel’s military operation in Gaza, dubbed “The Guardian of the Walls”, has included hundreds of air strike on the blockaded strip.

A total of 35 Palestinians, including 10 children, have been killed in Gaza since Monday.

Five Israelis have been killed by rocket fire.

Conricus insisted that Israel was exclusively hitting military targets, and that the army “goes to great lengths” to minimise the impact on civilians.