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Dozens Of Rockets Fired At Tel Aviv As Tensions Between Israel And Palestine Escalate

Dozens Of Rockets Fired At Tel Aviv As Tensions Between Israel And Palestine Escalate

There have been violent and bloody scenes as the region experiences its 'most intense fighting' since 2014.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Hamas has fired up to 130 rockets at Tel Aviv as tensions between Palestine and Israel escalate.

Palestinians have been fighting back against proposed forced evictions in East Jerusalem with protests during Ramadan.

But Israel has deployed the police and military to remove protestors and demonstrators in violent and bloody scenes.

The situation grew more tense this week when the Israeli Police stormed the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and fired rubber-coated rounds, tear gas, and sound bombs at worshippers.

During that raid, more than 180 Palestinians were wounded and 80 needed to be taken to hospital.

Hamas has since launched a barrage of rocket attacks against the popular holiday destination, Tel Aviv.

The aftermath of a rocket hitting near Tel Aviv.
PA

The group said in a statement that their mission was in response to Israel's targeted airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

"We are now carrying out our promise. The Qassam Brigades are launching their biggest rocket strike against Tel Aviv and its suburbs, with 130 rockets, in response to the enemy's targeting of residential towers," it said.

Israel's Iron Dome rocket-defence system worked to prevent many of the rockets from landing and causing widespread damage.

An energy pipeline was damage and many people in Tel Aviv ran for cover. The city's airport delayed flights leaving 'to allow defence of [the] nation's skies'.

According to reports, 26 Palestinians, including nine children and one woman, have been killed in Gaza. The Israeli military has said at least sixteen of those killed are militants.

A further two Israelis have also died, with health officials reporting that the majority of deaths have been caused by airstrikes.

PA

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to 'increase both the strength and rate of the strikes' against militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

He said: "Hamas will receive blows now that it didn't expect."

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it's the 'most intense fighting between Israel and Hamas since their 2014 war'.

Monday (May 10) was expected to escalate tensions as Israelis celebrated Jerusalem Day and their capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war.

Neighbouring Egypt had been trying to broker a ceasefire between the two states, however, the cycle of violence quickly spiralled.

Even before the two Israeli deaths, the Israeli military said it was sending troop reinforcements to the Gaza border and the defence minister ordered the mobilisation of 5,000 reserve soldiers.

The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) is pleading with Israelis to stop their plans to force evictions in East Jerusalem otherwise they risk violating international law.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Palestine