Hamas Islamists warned Israel Monday that it would face escalation unless it withdrew its forces from the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and a flashpoint east Jerusalem neighborhood within an hour.
“The leadership of the resistance gives the occupation until 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) to withdraw its soldiers… from the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and Sheikh Jarrah,” a Hamas spokesman said in a statement.
9 said killed in Gaza in IDF strikes; Israel said to deny it’s behind 3 kids’ deaths The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports nine “martyrs,” namely fatalities, including three children.
The deaths were confirmed at Beit Hanoun hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to Channel 12, the IDF is denying responsibility for the kids’ deaths, saying they were killed in a rocket launch at Israel that went awry.
The announcement comes as Palestinian media reports say Israel is carrying out retaliatory raids in Gaza following the rocket fire on Jerusalem and southern Israel. The IDF has yet to confirm.
