Today’s Headlines and Commentary
After weeks of tense confrontation between Arab protesters and Israeli police in Jerusalem—including violent clashes in recent days—cross-border conflict between Israel and militant groups in Gaza escalated on Monday evening, reports the New York Times. A Hamas military spokesman, Abu Obeida, said that the militant group had launched 137 rockets at the Israeli coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon within five minutes, appearing to have killed two Israelis and wounded dozens of others. Israeli military officials said that over 500 rockets had been launched from Gaza, although most of them either did not reach Israel or were destroyed by the military’s anti missile defense system. Israel launched at least 130 retaliatory strikes into Gaza on Monday and Tuesday—reportedly resulting in the deaths of at least 26 Palestinians, including nine children.