Israel Says It Shot Down Missile Over Tel Aviv
Israel says it shot down a missile over Tel Aviv on Thursday, marking the first time in years that a missile from Gaza has reached as far as Israel’s commercial capital.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the missile was fired from Gaza and was intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Gaza, with a recent increase in violence along the border.
The IDF said in a statement that the missile was shot down “as a result of a precise strike by the Iron Dome system.” There were no reports of injuries or damage from the missile attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett praised the Iron Dome system for successfully intercepting the missile, saying in a statement that “we will not tolerate attacks on our citizens and our sovereignty.”
The missile launch comes just days after a similar incident in which a rocket was fired from Gaza into southern Israel. In response, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza.
The recent escalation in violence comes as tensions have been rising in the region, with clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The violence has been fueled by anger over the potential eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem, as well as ongoing disputes over access to holy sites in the city.
The United Nations has called for calm and urged both sides to exercise restraint in order to prevent further escalation of the conflict. The international community has also expressed concern over the situation and called for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing violence.
The missile attack on Tel Aviv serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between Israel and Gaza, and the potential for further escalation in the conflict. Both sides must work towards finding a peaceful solution to the longstanding issues that have fueled the violence, in order to prevent further bloodshed and suffering for civilians on both sides.