Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise with a dangerous escalation after the Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest place in Islam, in Jerusalem yesterday. Dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, which responded with cross-border artillery fire. The Tel Aviv military said 34 rockets were fired at the border, five of which fell inside the country, and most of the others were hit by the Iron Dome defense system. This is the highest number of rockets fired from Lebanon since the 2006 war, when thousands of shots were fired against the Shiite militia Hezbollah.
The rockets damaged numerous buildings and vehicles and caused numerous fires. Some northern Israeli cities said they have opened public fallout shelters and hospitals are in a state of emergency. There are currently no deaths and apparently only one person was reported to have sustained minor shrapnel wounds. He did not claim any responsibility, but three security sources said Palestinian groups in the country were held responsible for the attack. A Hezbollah source told the Al-Arabiya network that they were not behind the rocket fire. The attack occurred while Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, was visiting Lebanon. There was no immediate comment from the Lebanese military or Hezbollah. The United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon described the situation as “extremely serious” in a written statement and called for restraint. The head of the mission, Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz, is in contact with officials on both sides.
Tensions in the region escalated after Israeli police clashed with Palestinians at Islam’s third holiest site, leading to reciprocal rockets and airstrikes with terrorists in Gaza for fear of further escalation. The action was strongly condemned in the Arab world, and the ensuing conflicts created fears of wider conflict. Two years ago, similar clashes turned into a bloody 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Shiite militias, which have strong ties to Hamas, said in a statement after the events, “Hezbollah strongly condemns the Israeli occupation forces’ attack on Masjid al-Aqsa and their attacks on worshipers.” “Hezbollah declares its full solidarity with the Palestinian people and resistance groups and promises to stand by them in all measures they take to protect the believers and Al-Aqsa Mosque and deter the enemy from continuing their attacks,” the group said.
As Israel celebrates Passover, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes his security cabinet. “Let no one test us, we will take all necessary measures to defend our country and our people,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on Twitter. Speaking from Gaza, Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees spokesman Mohammad Al-Braim praised the rocket fire from Lebanon, but did not take responsibility. “No Arab or Muslim can remain silent while such a brutal and barbaric raid is being carried out on Al-Aqsa Mosque without paying the price of enemy aggression.”
Al-Masjid al-Haram with the Masjid al-Aqsa on it is under the control of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which guarantees its status quo. Jews call it the Temple Mount, and as the location of both ancient biblical temples it is their holiest and most revered. According to the treaty, Jews are allowed to visit, but are not allowed to worship, as long as they respect the religious feelings of Muslims and behave well. However, the Wailing Wall, located just below the Mosques promenade, remains the exclusive place of worship for mosques.
Source: Today IT

Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.