Mosque raid sparks escalation

Israeli police entered Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque in force before dawn yesterday and clashed with worshippers, drawing condemnation from Arab countries and a furious reaction in the occupied West Bank and crossborder strikes in Gaza.

The incident during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of the Jewish Passover came amid fears that tensions built up during a year of escalating violence could be unleashed at the Al-Aqsa mosque, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Palestinians fired at least nine rockets into Israel overnight, prompting air strikes that hit what Israel said were weapon production sites for Hamas. Israeli tanks also shelled Hamas positions.

Clashes at Al-Aqsa in 2021 set off a 10-day war with Gaza.

REUTERS