At least 20 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air raids on the besieged Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian health ministry, after Hamas launched rockets from the coastal territory towards Israel.
The Gaza health ministry told Al Jazeera on Monday that 20 people, including children, had been killed in the strikes.
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The strikes were carried out after Hamas fired several rockets at Israel, following the expiration of the group’s ultimatum demanding Israel stand down forces from the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Earlier on Monday tensions at the compound, the third holiest in Islam which is also revered by Jews, escalated with more than 300 Palestinians wounded when Israeli police stormed the mosque, firing rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas.
Israeli strikes in Gaza ‘act of terrorism’
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said Israel’s air raids in Gaza were an “act of terrorism” and that Palestinians “deserve protection”.
“Unlike Israel, missile defense programs such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians,” she tweeted.
Protest across occupied West bank in support of East Jerusalem
Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reporting from Ramallah said “lots of spontaneous protests” took place across occupied West Bank in support of those in East Jerusalem.
“We’ve heard people chanting slogans in support … chanting for freedom, for Palestinians not to be evacuated from their houses [in Sheikh Jarrah].”
Moreover, Ibrahim said there were also calls for calls for protests from Palestinians who want these protests “near illegal Israeli military checkpoints and illegal Israeli settlements”.
“Their cause is the same cause. They all believe that they’re suffering under the Israeli occupation, and that’s why they want to get to have their voice heard, and they want to voice their anger,” Ibrahim said.
US calls for de-escalation
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged both Israel and the Palestinians to lower tensions.
“All sides need to de-escalate, reduce tensions, take practical steps to calm things down,” Blinken said as he met his Jordanian counterpart in Washington.
Israeli PM wows to continue building in ‘all’ Jerusalem
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he intended to build in “all of Jerusalem”, calling it a “natural right in sovereign state”, according to a statement released by his office.
“I am saying it clearly to our best friends, all of Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel and will continue construction in it, in all its neighborhoods , just like any other nation building and developing its capital,” he said.
