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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israel attacks Gaza Strip following raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">By MEE staff</div>
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<p>Palestinian Islamic Jihad launches rockets towards Israel after Al-Aqsa Mosque is raided by Israeli forces</p>
<p><img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/article_page/public/images-story/33CN67Z-highres.jpg?itok=w1i11wRZ" alt="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="392" height="221">
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<p>Smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City after the Israeli military struck the Palestinian enclave on April 5, 2023. (AFP)</p>
<p><span>Published date:</span> 5 April 2023 <br></p>
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<div><p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel</a> launched air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, after rockets were fired from the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian</a> enclave in the wake of the Israeli assault on Al-Aqsa mosque in <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/occupation" target="_blank">occupied</a> East Jerusalem. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli</a> forces brutally assaulted dozens of <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian</a>
worshippers inside Al-Aqsa on Tuesday night and forcibly removed them
from the site where they were peacefully observing the holy month of
Ramadan. </p>
<p>In response, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group launched a
volley of 16-18 rockets towards Israel. Reports in Israeli media said
that the Iron Dome system intercepted eight missiles.</p>
<p>The Israeli army said it had targeted a weapons factory and a weapons storage facility belonging to the PIJ. </p>
<p>Explosions were heard across the Gaza Strip as a result of the bombing, which caused damage to Palestinian homes and property. </p>
<p>"The Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip this morning is a failed
attempt to prevent Gaza from continuing its support by all means for our
people in Jerusalem and the West Bank," the Hamas spokesman Hazem
Qassem said.</p>
<h3>Tensions rising</h3>
<p>According to the Israeli news website <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjwh11dcw2#autoplay" target="_blank">Yedioth Ahronoth</a> newspaper Israeli politicians are looking for ways to diffuse tensions on the eve of the Jewish holiday of passover.</p>
<p>Dozens of heavily armed officers stormed the site, used stun grenades
and fired tear gas into the Qibli prayer hall, where hundreds of men,
women, elderly people and children were staying overnight to pray. Some
eyewitnesses said rubber-coated steel bullets were also fired. </p>
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<p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestine-uk-urged-refer-israel-icc-war-crimes" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/read_more/public/images-story/uk-palestine-protest-netanyahu-visit-24-march-2023-mee-alex-mcdonald_0.jpg?itok=Kkr2xUip" alt="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="392" height="245">
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<p>Israeli officers then beat worshippers with batons and riot guns,
wounding many, before arresting them. Their conditions were not
immediately made clear. </p>
<p>Videos from inside the mosque showed Israeli officers repeatedly
hitting people with batons while they appeared to lie on the floor.
Meanwhile, the cries for help from women and children could be heard in
the background. </p>
<p>The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said it received multiple
reports of injuries at Al-Aqsa Mosque but was unable to estimate the
number of casualties as Israeli forces <a href="https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1643423097461121026" target="_blank">blocked medics</a> from reaching the wounded.</p>
<p>One medic was attacked by an Israeli police officer and wounded outside one of the mosque's gates. </p>
<p>A PRCS spokesperson said they were informed that those wounded in the
raid have been evacuated but they don't know by who and where they were
taken. </p>
<p>Local media said dozens were wounded in the assault and the injuries
have included bruises, fractures and breathlessness from inhaling tear
gas. Some videos from the scene published online showed people
apparently unconscious.</p>
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