For the sixth night in a row, there have been back and forth shelling between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. At least 26 people have been killed in bombings carried out by the Israeli army.
Israel had already warned that it would carry out attacks if rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel. At around midnight, the air raid siren went off in Tel Aviv, as well as elsewhere in the country.
Israel’s anti-aircraft fire has intercepted many missiles. According to the AP news agency, an Israeli was killed when a rocket hit his house in Tel Aviv.
Hamas leader’s house bombed
Israel then bombed roads and buildings in the Gaza Strip. The home of Hamas leader Yehya al-Sinwar was also targeted. The building has been destroyed, but the Hamas leader himself is said to have not been present at the time of the attack.
At least 26 people have been killed in bombing of two buildings in Gaza City, according to Palestinian health authorities. It would be the deadliest attack since the conflict flared up last week.
Israeli Air Force destroyed building in the Gaza Strip
The Israeli Air Force yesterday destroyed a 14-storey building in the Gaza Strip, which houses media companies such as the Associated Press news agency and news channel al-Jazeera, among others.
Since the beginning of the week, Hamas has been bombarding Israel with rockets and the Israeli army has been bombing the Gaza Strip. At least 140 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian authorities. Eight deaths have been reported on the Israeli side.
Calls Biden for the reduction of violence in Palestine done by Israel
The US president has again spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He called for a reduction in violence, but said he stands behind Israel’s campaign “to defend itself.”
Netanyahu has told Biden that the Israeli military is doing everything it can to not hit people who are not involved with Hamas and other militants in the Gaza Strip. Biden expressed concern about civilian casualties in Gaza.
Biden also spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. It was their first meeting since the US president took office in January. Biden expressed support for steps to enable Palestinians to live “dignified, safe and free.” The President of the United States has reiterated his support for a two-state solution.
Why is it getting so out of hand now?
The new conflict started last week with the eviction of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, correspondent Olaf Koens previously explained. “That resulted in unrest at the Al-Aqsa mosque, where the Israeli police raided with tear gas and flash grenades. That is very sensitive. Hamas sought retaliation and fired rockets at Jerusalem for the first time in a long time.”
Koens: “There was a heavy Israeli retaliation, and in response rockets were fired at Tel Aviv. Then the unrest spread to other parts.”
