Israel Facing Passover Rocket Attacks
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Southern Israel woke up with air raid sirens after Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets early Thursday as the nation prepared for Pesach, the Biblical Passover holiday.
Thursday’s attacks came hours after another tense night at Jerusalem’s most sensitive religious site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police clashed with Muslim worshippers.
Authorities said the Muslims attempted to stay overnight in defiance of long-standing compromises about the compound management.
The Israeli military said seven rockets launched from the Gaza Strip exploded in midair. No group claimed responsibility for the barrage.
The rocket fire raised fears of more violence as Jews began the week-long Passover holiday.
Hundreds of Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem gathered for what traditional churches call “Holy Thursday.”
They came to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to mark the Last Supper of Jesus, also known as Yeshua, before His crucifixion and His resurrection from death on Easter Sunday.
MUSLIMS RAMADAN
Muslims are also in the area to mark Ramadan, which they view as a holy month.
Besides rockets, Israel was also confronted with a diplomatic salvo fired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
On Wednesday, he condemned the violence that erupted inside Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque, saying Israel had crossed a “red line.”
“Turkey cannot stay silent in the face of these attacks. Trampling on the Al-Aqsa mosque is our red line,” he added during a dinner for those breaking daytime fasting, a practice for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“Palestinians are not alone,” he warned. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had earlier said that Israel now faces “several fronts” with threats from several nations and terror groups, as well as domestic protests and strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has temporarily suspended his decision to fire Gallant due to the tense security situation in the country, people close to the premier said.
Netanyahu announced on March 26 that he was firing Gallant, a member of the premier’s own Likud party, after the minister urged a delay in a planned judicial overhaul.
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