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Israel is also investigating possible Iranian involvement in the incident

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REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA - Palestinian Hamas militants
Agencia EFE
Updated: 07/04/23

Palestinian militias attacked Israel today, first from Gaza, with seven surface-to-air rockets, and then from southern Lebanon, with 34 projectiles, five of which hit Israeli soil and caused two injuries from shrapnel, a serious step in the escalation of tension in the middle of Ramadan.

"We know for sure that it was Palestinian fire, either from Hamas or Islamic Jihad," Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, spokesman for the Israeli army, which has yet to respond to the attacks, told the media.

The spokesman ruled out that the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah was responsible for firing the shells, although he added that "they were probably aware of it because they control everything that happens in southern Lebanon" and reminded the Lebanese government that they hold it responsible for any aggression emanating from their territory.

Israel is also investigating possible Iranian involvement, as the Islamic Republic, Israel's enemy, is Hezbollah's main supporter and finances Palestinian militias.

The firing of more than 30 rockets from Lebanon, which injured two people by shrapnel, represents the largest attack from Lebanon on Israel since 2006, when Israeli troops fought a month-long war with Hezbollah.

Five rockets landed on Israeli soil, 25 were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system and the whereabouts of the other four are unknown; while the seven surface-to-air rockets launched from Gaza, apparently aimed at an Israeli air force plane, exploded in mid-air and caused no damage.

"This is a multi-dimensional event," the Israeli military spokesman explained of today's events, which mark the second consecutive day of violence in the region, sparked by clashes between Israel Police and Palestinian worshippers at Jerusalem's Esplanade of the Mosques.

Palestinian militias began yesterday's exchange of fire by firing a dozen rockets in the morning and two more in the evening, after more than 30 Palestinians were injured and some 350 were detained by police during riots at the holy Islamic Al Aqsa Mosque on the Esplanade.

The Israeli army responded yesterday by shelling Hamas targets in Gaza, but has not yet taken action following today's attacks from both the Strip and Lebanon, pending instructions from the Security Cabinet, which is to meet tonight on an emergency basis called by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We are preparing on all borders, both in Gaza and in the north," warned the army spokesman, who stressed that Israel views today's rocket fire as "very serious".

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant instructed the armed forces to prepare for "any possible response to recent events", after meeting with the military hierarchy and awaiting decisions by the security cabinet.

Of today's Israeli casualties, the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service reported that a 19-year-old man suffered a hand injury from shrapnel and a woman in her 60s was injured in the leg after she fell on her way to the bomb shelter.

Israeli media reported that a second young man, aged 26, was also hit by shrapnel while riding a motorbike near the border community of Shlomi.

One of the reported hits took place in that community, in the vicinity of a commercial area, where several shops were hit by shrapnel.

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