Sirens in Jerusalem as Hamas launches ‘barrage of rockets’
At least 20 Palestinians killed in Gaza after Israel responds with air strikes
Hamas fired dozens of rockets towards southern Israel and Jerusalem on Monday evening after several hundred Palestinians were hurt in clashes on the Temple Mount in recent days.
The missiles triggered the first air raid sirens in Jerusalem since 2014 and prompted a heavy IDF air strike in response.
At least 20 people, including nine children, were killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
The IDF said an Israeli citizen was lightly hurt by an anti-tank missile fired from Gaza as the barrage of rockets were launched.
The injured Israeli was taken to a nearby hospital, the IDF said.
Sirens were also heard in Beit Shemesh, to the west of Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had crossed a “red line” with the attack on Jerusalem.
“Whoever attacks us will pay a heavy price,” he said, adding that the fighting could continue for some time.
A sitting of the Knesset was suspended as politicians took cover in parliament’s air raid shelter.
Footage on social media showed people on the streets scrambling to find shelter.
Hamas had threatened earlier on Monday that it would launch rockets in response to recent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers in and around the Temple Mount.
Police cancelled Monday’s planned Jerusalem Day flag march as the sirens sounded.
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