2 Palestinians killed in Israeli raids in Gaza

GAZA CITY

Two Palestinians were killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Dec. 9, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In a statement, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said two Palestinians were recovered from under the rubble of a Hamas post struck by Israeli warplanes south of Gaza City.

The Israeli army said its forces had struck four Hamas targets in Gaza overnight following a rocket fire from the Palestinian territory into southern Israel.

The Palestinian health ministry said 15 people were injured in Israeli strikes in the strip late on Dec. 8.

Tension has risen across the West Bank and Gaza following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision on Dec. 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Thousands of Palestinians staged rallies across the West Bank amid clashes with Israeli forces, which left at least two protesters martyred and hundreds injured.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967 – might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.