“Israeli forces attack worshippers in violent Al-Aqsa Mosque raid.”

GAZA/JERUSALEM – Israeli police raided Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque before dawn on Wednesday to try to clear groups it said were barricaded inside, lead­ing to clashes with worshippers and triggering an exchange of crossbor­der fire with Gaza.

Palestinian fighters fired at least nine rockets from Gaza into Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes on what they claimed were weapon production sites for Hamas. Hamas did not claim responsibility for the rocket attacks, but stated that they were in response to the raid on Al-Aqsa. Witnesses reported ground-shaking explosions from the airstrikes in Gaza, and Israeli tanks were said to have shelled Hamas positions. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that they were ready for any scenario and not interested in an escalation. It is important to seek out credible news sources and to approach reports of such incidents with a critical and objective perspective.