Who are the Jewish groups who enter Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound?
Over the past three decades, Israel has enforced greater control over the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, including by controlling who enters and exits, restricting Palestinian access, conducting violent raids inside, and increasingly facilitating the entry of Jewish hardline groups who, since 1967, have publicly stated their aim to take over the compound, destroy the Dome of the Rock, and build a third temple there.
Over the past three decades, Israel has enforced greater control over the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, including by controlling who enters and exits, restricting Palestinian access, conducting violent raids inside, and increasingly facilitating the entry of Jewish hardline groups who, since 1967, have publicly stated their aim to take over the compound, destroy the Dome of the Rock, and build a third temple there.
Why is Al-Aqsa so significant?
Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has said that one of the reasons for its operation against Israel is in response to the continuing provocations in Al-Aqsa.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites in the world. It is also the most contested piece of territory in the Holy Land since Israel occupied East Jerusalem, including the Old City, in 1967, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the conflict dates even further back, to before the creation of Israel.
The compound is important to both Muslims and Jews.
For Muslims, the Noble Sanctuary hosts Islam’s third holiest site, the al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock, a seventh-century structure believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has said that one of the reasons for its operation against Israel is in response to the continuing provocations in Al-Aqsa.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites in the world. It is also the most contested piece of territory in the Holy Land since Israel occupied East Jerusalem, including the Old City, in 1967, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the conflict dates even further back, to before the creation of Israel.
The compound is important to both Muslims and Jews.
For Muslims, the Noble Sanctuary hosts Islam’s third holiest site, the al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock, a seventh-century structure believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
We are waging a battle of dignity to defend Al-Aqsa’: Hamas
We now have the statement by Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, as promised earlier.
Here’s an excerpt:
“The enemy besieging Gaza has planned to surprise it and escalate the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the settlement and aggression that continues every moment in the West Bank, which seeks to uproot our people and expel them from their land, and the crimes of the occupation against our people in the 1948s, as it stands behind all the killing and assassination operations there, and the occupation’s continuation of detaining our prisoners for decades, and reneging on agreements when he re-arrested those liberated from the swap deal.
“For all of this, we are waging a battle of honour, resistance and dignity to defend Al-Aqsa, under the title that was announced by Brother Commander-in-Chief Abu Khaled Al-Deif, “Al-Aqsa Flood”. This flood began in Gaza and will extend to the West Bank and abroad, and every place where our people and nation are present.”
We now have the statement by Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, as promised earlier.
Here’s an excerpt:
“The enemy besieging Gaza has planned to surprise it and escalate the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the settlement and aggression that continues every moment in the West Bank, which seeks to uproot our people and expel them from their land, and the crimes of the occupation against our people in the 1948s, as it stands behind all the killing and assassination operations there, and the occupation’s continuation of detaining our prisoners for decades, and reneging on agreements when he re-arrested those liberated from the swap deal.
“For all of this, we are waging a battle of honour, resistance and dignity to defend Al-Aqsa, under the title that was announced by Brother Commander-in-Chief Abu Khaled Al-Deif, “Al-Aqsa Flood”. This flood began in Gaza and will extend to the West Bank and abroad, and every place where our people and nation are present.”
Airports close in southern and central Israel:
Local airports in central and southern Israel have been closed for commercial and leisurely use, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Local airports in central and southern Israel have been closed for commercial and leisurely use, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Operation surprised Israel: Hamas member
Hamas member Ezzat al-Rashq says the operation surprised Israel “in terms of time, place and planning”.
Hamas member Ezzat al-Rashq says the operation surprised Israel “in terms of time, place and planning”.
Why firing of long-range rockets by Hamas is important
The fact that Hamas decided to kick off the attack using long-range rockets is “very significant”.
“We usually see them being fired at the end of an escalation, as was the case in the previous major confrontation in 2021. So this operation is starting in the highest extent,”
“It is not just a threat or an attack sending warning messages. It is actually a sign that Hamas is carrying out an operation in the widest scale that they could,” other Palestinian factions in Gaza had also joined the battle.
The fact that Hamas decided to kick off the attack using long-range rockets is “very significant”.
“We usually see them being fired at the end of an escalation, as was the case in the previous major confrontation in 2021. So this operation is starting in the highest extent,”
“It is not just a threat or an attack sending warning messages. It is actually a sign that Hamas is carrying out an operation in the widest scale that they could,” other Palestinian factions in Gaza had also joined the battle.
Israeli military radio is reporting that Palestinian fighters from Gaza have “infiltrated” Israel.
There is also footage of Palestinian fighters taking Israelis hostage.
The commander of Hamas’s military wing has called on armed groups in Lebanon to join the fight against Israel.
Hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza flee homes from areas bordering Israel
Hundreds of residents in the Gaza Strip have fled their homes to move away from the border with Israel.
Men, women and children were seen carrying blankets and food items as they left their homes, mostly in the northeastern part of the Palestinian territory.
Hundreds of residents in the Gaza Strip have fled their homes to move away from the border with Israel.
Men, women and children were seen carrying blankets and food items as they left their homes, mostly in the northeastern part of the Palestinian territory.
People here in Gaza have already been living under an Israeli blockade for 17 years. There is a common sense of fear and great worry. There are around 2.3 million people living here, and thousands of overcrowded refugee camps. This means that every air strike, targeting neighbourhoods, subjected to destruction.
Palestinian fighters enter Israel and thousands of rockets are fired as Hamas launches large-scale operation.
Hezbollah:
The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has said they are following the situation in Gaza and are “in direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance”.
The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has said they are following the situation in Gaza and are “in direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance”.
What is life like in Gaza?
For years, people living in the occupied Gaza Strip have had to contend with unemployment, power cuts, and the hardship brought on by the Israeli blockade.
The area of 365sq km (141sq miles) has also had to withstand many Israeli assaults during the past seven years, the last of which was in September when Israel used drones and a tank to attack protesters, leaving 22 injured.
In June 2007, Israel imposed an airtight land, sea and air blockade on the area and controls Gaza’s airspace, territorial waters, and two of the three border crossing points; the third is controlled by Egypt.
For years, people living in the occupied Gaza Strip have had to contend with unemployment, power cuts, and the hardship brought on by the Israeli blockade.
The area of 365sq km (141sq miles) has also had to withstand many Israeli assaults during the past seven years, the last of which was in September when Israel used drones and a tank to attack protesters, leaving 22 injured.
In June 2007, Israel imposed an airtight land, sea and air blockade on the area and controls Gaza’s airspace, territorial waters, and two of the three border crossing points; the third is controlled by Egypt.
What is life like in Gaza?
Unemployment has risen from 23.6 percent before the blockade to 47 percent at the end of 2022. The poverty rate has also increased from 40 percent in 2005 to 61.6 percent in 2022, according to the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.
Residents have to endure power cuts that average 12 hours a day, especially in periods of intense demand during the warmer months.
Unemployment has risen from 23.6 percent before the blockade to 47 percent at the end of 2022. The poverty rate has also increased from 40 percent in 2005 to 61.6 percent in 2022, according to the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.
Residents have to endure power cuts that average 12 hours a day, especially in periods of intense demand during the warmer months.
Timeline: Israel’s attacks on Gaza
The following timeline lists the major large-scale rounds of fighting between Israel and Gaza.
December 2008 – Israel launches a 22-day military offensive in Gaza after rockets were fired at the southern Israeli town of Sderot. About 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed before a ceasefire is agreed upon. The confrontation lasted for 23 days.
November 2012 – Israel kills Hamas’s military chief of staff, Ahmad Jabari, followed by eight days of Israeli air raids on Palestine.
July-August 2014 – The kidnap and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Hamas leads to a seven-week war in which more than 2,100 Palestinians are killed in Gaza along with 73 Israelis, including 67 soldiers.
May 2021 – After weeks of tension during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, hundreds of Palestinians are injured by Israeli security forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Hamas demanded Israel withdraw security forces from the compound. Israel launched air raids on Gaza in response to what it said were rockets fired from Gaza. In the fighting that went on for 11 days, at least 260 people were killed in Gaza and 13 died in Israel.
August 2022 – More than 30 Palestinians, including women and children, killed in new air attacks carried out by Israeli planes. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose two commanders were killed in the air strikes, fires dozens of rockets into Israel in response.
May 2023 – Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza strip called “Operation Shield and Arrow” which lasted for five days. At least 13 people, including six women and four children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Among the dead were three members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement.
The following timeline lists the major large-scale rounds of fighting between Israel and Gaza.
December 2008 – Israel launches a 22-day military offensive in Gaza after rockets were fired at the southern Israeli town of Sderot. About 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis killed before a ceasefire is agreed upon. The confrontation lasted for 23 days.
November 2012 – Israel kills Hamas’s military chief of staff, Ahmad Jabari, followed by eight days of Israeli air raids on Palestine.
July-August 2014 – The kidnap and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Hamas leads to a seven-week war in which more than 2,100 Palestinians are killed in Gaza along with 73 Israelis, including 67 soldiers.
May 2021 – After weeks of tension during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, hundreds of Palestinians are injured by Israeli security forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Hamas demanded Israel withdraw security forces from the compound. Israel launched air raids on Gaza in response to what it said were rockets fired from Gaza. In the fighting that went on for 11 days, at least 260 people were killed in Gaza and 13 died in Israel.
August 2022 – More than 30 Palestinians, including women and children, killed in new air attacks carried out by Israeli planes. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose two commanders were killed in the air strikes, fires dozens of rockets into Israel in response.
May 2023 – Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza strip called “Operation Shield and Arrow” which lasted for five days. At least 13 people, including six women and four children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Among the dead were three members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement.