Israel bombing kills 9, Hamas fire rockets
This is a developing story
Hamas on Monday said it fired rockets at Israel, triggering warning sirens in Jerusalem and near the Gaza border, in a response to the injury of more than 300 Palestinians following a raid by Israeli police on Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Israel responded with missile strikes in Northern Gaza leaving at least nine Palestinian dead and several wounded.
Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip, had given Israel an ultimatum to stand down its forces at al Aqsa and another Jerusalem flashpoint by 6 p.m. (1500 GMT).
The Israeli Knesset cancelled its session and evacuated members after rocket-warning sirens sounded in Jerusalem and several explosions were heard.
Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, said the rocket attack was a response to what he called Israeli “crimes and aggression” in Jerusalem.
“This is a message the enemy has to understand well,” he said. Visuals of Israeli settlers panicking in the streets during the Jerusalem day March have surfaced online.
Activists in Masjid Al-Aqsa cheered the the response of Hamas against Israeli forces storming the holy site. Slogans for Muslim countries to support Palestine could be heard in the mass gathering of worshippers in the mosque.
