Israel aircraft strike Gaza as violence spills beyond Jerusalem

There has been growing tension across the West Bank and Jerusalem in recent days due to provocative raids by Jewish fanatics into al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israeli officials in turn accuse Palestinian leaders of inciting violence against Jewish visitors and say Palestinians are not respecting the status quo by attempting to prevent access by non-Muslims.

On the other hand, a bus was been struck by a rocket which was fired by the Palestinian militants in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas.

An Iron Dome anti-rocket battery also shot down a rocket over the southern city of Ashkelon.

Protests broke out after Muslim prayers on Friday afternoon.

Israeli jets hit three targets in Gaza, injuring one Palestinian. Youth hurled projectiles at police near Ofer prison, Qalandiya checkpoint and Jalazun refugee camp – flashpoints in the long-running conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Red Crescent said a total of seven Palestinians were wounded by live fire and 44 by rubber bullets.

Believed to be where the Prophet Mohammed made his night journey to heaven, it is the third-holiest site in Islam after the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, both in Saudi Arabia.

Police have put thousands of officers on patrol.

“It’s a frontline”, said Mazen Shawish, 52. Arabic on the signs from right to left read, “If you are not for Quds, who will be?”, “It will not be divided”, “A big shout out to those holding steadfast at Aqsa Mosque”.

Under an arrangement, Muslim authorities manage the site’s religious and civilian affairs under Jordanian supervision, while Israeli police oversee security. A controversy has meanwhile been growing over the treatment by Palestinian police of protesters in the 17 percent of the West Bank that they control, after a video was uploaded showing police beating a protester on Friday in Bethlehem. Jews are allowed to visit but not to pray to avoid provoking tensions.

Murad Adailah, IAF spokesperson, described Friday as a day of anger against the Israeli aggression on Al Aqsa Mosque. “This will not be limited to the holy city, but it will affect the whole world“, he warned. Its compound is also highly respected by Jews and Christians.

The shrine has following a indignant on the prospect of a rise in Israeli guests within the run-up to the spiritual Jewish vacation season, which began this week with new yr (Rosh Hahsanah).

By so doing, Weinstein approved Netanyahu’s plan to change the rules of engagement and declare “war against stone-throwers and firebomb throwers” in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.