Israel responds to Gaza rockets with airstrikes

Israel responds to Gaza rockets with airstrikes

JERUSALEM — Palestinians and Israeli security forces clashed early Thursday around the entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City and Israel responded to rockets fired from Gaza with airstrikes, as the worst tensions in months continued to simmer. Videos showed dozens of Israeli police on the compound outside the mosque just after sunrise Thursday as Palestinians launched fireworks towards them from inside the building. Other videos showed police firing stun grenades. Later, at around 7:30 a.m., a group of Jewish visitors entered the compound, many of them in religious clothing, protected by Israeli security forces. The hilltop site is a flashpoint for decades. Since 1967, arrangements have been governed by a 'status quo' understanding, which allows only Muslims to pray on the site, though anyone is allowed to visit during certain hours. In an effort to reduce tensions, and in line with similar Israeli government decisions in recent years, from today there will be no further visits by Jewish groups until the end of Ramadan — in about ten days' time. "In common with recent days, this morning, at the end of the dawn prayer, dozens of lawbreakers and masked men rioted and disturbed the order on the