The Israeli military said it intercepted a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Mon., the first launch since New Year's Eve, as tensions have soared in recent weeks.
This comes after Palestinians and Israeli police clashed over the weekend in and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, beginning with an Israeli raid on Fri. that saw hundreds arrested and over 150 Palestinians injured. Police say they entered to remove rocks and stones in anticipation of violence.
This is but the latest in a series of unprovoked attacks by Israeli occupation forces, who appear bent on turning the holy month of Ramadan in Jerusalem into a battlefield. Unfortunately, violence at the mosque is likely only just beginning, and Israel risks pushing Palestinians into a third Intifada.
Police officers were forced to act in response to Palestinian violence to block rioters from injuring worshippers and desecrating holy places. This is a complex and sensitive time, but Israel is determined to guarantee the security of its citizens and public order, while taking efforts to allow freedom of worship to everyone on the Temple Mount.