Jerusalem tension triggers Gaza-Israel fire exchange

JERUSALEM (AP) — Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip toward Israel resumed Saturday evening after a day-long pause despite calls for calm from the United Nations and threats by Israeli leaders to retaliate fiercely. Tensions in Jerusalem as Palestinians clashed with Israeli police and far-right Jewish groups prompted the heaviest cross-border violence in months between Israel and Gaza.

Israeli Border Police patrol the Old City of Jerusalem as worshippers arrive for Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Israeli police say 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were wounded in a night of chaos in Jerusalem, where security forces separately clashed with Palestinians angry about Ramadan restrictions and Jewish extremists who held an anti-Arab march nearby.
Palestinians hold Hamas movement green flags attend a protest in solidarity with Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem, in Gaza City, Friday, April. 23, 2021.
Palestinian Hamas supporters chant anti Israel slogans during a protest in solidarity with Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem, in Gaza City, Friday, April. 23, 2021.
Israeli police stand at a checkpoint with a sign in Arabic that reads, “Al-Aqsa Mosque,” in the Old City of Jerusalem for Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Israeli police say 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were wounded in a night of chaos in Jerusalem, where security forces separately clashed with Palestinians angry about Ramadan restrictions and Jewish extremists who held an anti-Arab march nearby.
Israeli police watch a Muslim worshipper leaving the Old City of Jerusalem after Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Israeli police say 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were wounded in a night of chaos in Jerusalem, where security forces separately clashed with Palestinians angry about Ramadan restrictions and Jewish extremists who held an anti-Arab march nearby.
Israeli police use the Damascus Gate to watch Muslim worshippers leave the Old City of Jerusalem after Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Israeli police say 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were wounded in a night of chaos in Jerusalem, where security forces separately clashed with Palestinians angry about Ramadan restrictions and Jewish extremists who held an anti-Arab march nearby.
An Israeli policeman films Muslim worshippers leaving the Old City of Jerusalem after Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Israeli police say 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were wounded in a night of chaos in Jerusalem, where security forces separately clashed with Palestinians angry about Ramadan restrictions and Jewish extremists who held an anti-Arab march nearby.
Israeli riot police officers ask a woman dressed as a clown to leave the area during clashes at Damascus Gate just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, Thursday, April 22, 2021. Israeli police manned barricades to prevent hundreds of Jewish extremists from marching to the area as police clashed with Palestinians on a nightly basis since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last week, when they set up barricades at Damascus Gate, a traditional outdoor gathering spot.
A wounded Palestinian demonstrator receives treatment after he was hit during clashes with Israeli police at Damascus Gate just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, Thursday, April 22, 2021. Palestinians clash with Israeli police over restrictions on Ramadan gatherings ahead of a planned march by Lahava, a Jewish extremist group, to the area later on Thursday amid heightened tensions in the city.
Israeli border police block members of “Lahava”, a Jewish extremist group on approach to Damascus Gate to protest amid heightened tensions in the city, just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, Thursday, April 22, 2021.
Mounted Israeli police officers ride past a fire during clashes with Palestinians, just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, Thursday, April 22, 2021. Israeli police manned barricades to prevent hundreds of Jewish extremists from marching to the area as police clashed with Palestinians on a nightly basis since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan last week, when they set up barricades at Damascus Gate, a traditional outdoor gathering spot.
Israeli border police stand guard during clashes between Palestinians and Jewish extremist group “Lahava” just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, Thursday, April 22, 2021. Members of the Jewish extremist group Lehava plan to march to the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, where Palestinians have clashed with Israeli police in recent days over restrictions on outdoor gatherings during the holy month of Ramadan. Tensions are high in Jerusalem following a series of violent confrontations between Jewish and Palestinian youths who documented some of the assaults in TikTok videos.
Israeli border police detain an Israeli youth as members of “Lahava”, a Jewish extremist group, as they try approach to Damascus Gate to protest amid heightened tensions in the city, just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, Thursday, April. 22, 2021.
Israeli boys examine the site where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in Israel, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired some three dozen rockets into Israel overnight Saturday, while the Israeli military struck back at targets operated by the ruling Hamas group.
A man rides his bicycle past the site where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in Israel, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired some three dozen rockets into Israel overnight Saturday, while the Israeli military struck back at targets operated by the ruling Hamas group.
Protesters chant anti Israel slogans during a protest in solidarity with fellow Palestinian worshippers in Jerusalem, at the main street of Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Protesters chant anti Israel slogans during a protest in solidarity with fellow Palestinian worshippers in Jerusalem, at the main street of Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Saturday, April 24, 2021.
A Palestinian man stands guard at the Damascus Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem as worshippers took part in the evening prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Clashes between police and Palestinian protesters here have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Palestinians pray at the Damascus Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Clashes between police and Palestinian protesters here have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Protesters chant anti Israel slogans during a protest in solidarity with fellow Palestinian worshippers in Jerusalem, at the main street of Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Saturday, April 24, 2021.
A Palestinian youth speaks with Israeli police who gathered in force at Damascus Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem as worshippers took part in the evening prayer during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Clashes between police and Palestinian protesters here have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Israeli police push a Palestinian man near the Damascus Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Clashes between police and Palestinian protesters here have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
People sit together at an outdoor cafe near the Damascus Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Clashes between police and Palestinian protesters here have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Israeli police detain a Palestinian youth at the Damascus Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Saturday, April 24, 2021. Clashes between police and Palestinian protesters here have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Protesters chant anti Israel slogans during a protest in solidarity with fellow Palestinian worshippers in Jerusalem, at the main street of Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Saturday, April 24, 2021.

Israeli Border Police patrol the Old City of Jerusalem as worshippers arrive for Friday prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on Friday, April 23, 2021. Israeli police say 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were wounded in a night of chaos in Jerusalem, where security forces separately clashed with Palestinians angry about Ramadan restrictions and Jewish extremists who held an anti-Arab march nearby. April 25, 2021

Militants fired a rocket toward Sderot town in southern Israel and it was intercepted by air defenses, the military said. Early Saturday, militants in the Gaza Strip fired some three dozen rockets into Israel, while the Israeli military struck back at targets operated by the ruling Hamas group.

The barrage of rocket fire came as hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli police in east Jerusalem. The clashes, in which at least four police and six protesters were injured, have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and show no signs of stopping.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he held talks with top security officials about Gaza and Jerusalem. He said he instructed officials to be ready for ‘every scenario’ in Gaza. In Jerusalem, he said Israel would guarantee ‘freedom of worship’ for everyone, and he appealed for calm. “We ask now for people to obey the law and I call for a calming of tempers on all sides.”

The U.N. envoy to the region, Tor Wennesland, condemned the violence and said the United Nations was working with all sides to restore calm. “The provocative acts across Jerusalem must cease. The indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israeli population centers violates international law and must stop immediately,” he said. “I reiterate my call upon all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation, particularly during the Holy month of Ramadan and this politically charged time for all.”

Meanwhile, Israeli chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, is weighing “a series of steps for possible responses,” and preparations if the situation continued to escalate, the military said in a statement. He also postponed a trip to the United States that was scheduled for Sunday.

The U.S. also appealed for calm, while neighboring Jordan, which serves as the custodian for Jerusalem’s Muslim holy sites, condemned Israel’s actions. Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2014, similar tensions erupted into a 50-day war between Israel and Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant group.

The Israeli military said a total of 36 rockets were fired into Israel throughout the night. It said six rockets were intercepted, while most of the others landed in open areas. There were no reports of injuries or serious damage, but the incoming rocket fire set off air-raid sirens throughout southern Israel.

In response, the army said fighter jets and helicopters struck a number of Hamas targets in Gaza, including an underground facility and rocket launchers. Hamas did not claim responsibility for the rocket fire, but Israel considers the group responsible for all fire emanating from the territory.

The military imposed limits on outdoor gatherings in southern Israel early Saturday but lifted the restrictions several hours later and allowed people to resume their normal routines. Israel and Hamas, an Islamic group sworn to Israel’s destruction, are bitter enemies that have fought three wars and numerous skirmishes since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007.

Although neither side appears to have an interest in escalating tensions, Hamas sees itself as the defender of Jerusalem and may feel obligated to act, or at least tacitly encourage rocket attacks by other groups, ahead of upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections. Hamas’ armed wing has warned Israel “not to test” its patience.

At dawn, hundreds of people in Gaza challenged nightly curfews imposed by Hamas to curb the coronavirus outbreak and took to the streets in an act of solidarity with fellow Palestinians in Jerusalem, burning tires.

The Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. Its fate has been one of the most divisive issues in the peace process, which ground to a halt more than a decade ago. Palestinians have clashed with Israeli police on a nightly basis since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan nearly two weeks ago.

The tensions began when police placed barricades outside the Old City’s Damascus Gate, where Muslims traditionally gather to enjoy the evening after the daytime fast. The clashes intensified Thursday evening when hundreds of Palestinians hurled stones and bottles at police, who fired a water cannon and stun grenades to disperse them. Dozens of Palestinians were wounded in the melee.

At the same time, a far-right Jewish group known as Lahava led a march of hundreds of protesters chanting “Arabs get out!” toward the Damascus Gate. The group, led by a disciple of the late racist rabbi Meir Kahane, is allied with elements of a far-right party elected to Israel’s parliament last month.

The show of force came in response to videos circulated on TikTok showing Palestinians slapping religious Jews at random. Other videos made in response to them appear to show Jews assaulting Arabs. After keeping them a few hundred yards (meters) away from Damascus Gate, police used water cannon, stun grenades and mounted police to push far-right protesters back toward mostly Jewish west Jerusalem.

In all, police said 44 people were arrested and 20 officers were injured.

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