Arab League condemns Israeli air strikes on Gaza

Head of regional body accuses Israel of stoking tensions, provoking violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.

The head of the Arab League has condemned deadly Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip as “indiscriminate and irresponsible” and said Israel had provoked an earlier increase in violence by its actions in Jerusalem. The violence began after Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday for a third consecutive day, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian worshippers inside Islam’s third holiest site in the final days of the holy month of Ramadan. Responding to the crackdown, Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza strip, issued an ultimatum, saying Israel had until 6pm (15:00 GMT) to withdraw its forces from Al-Aqsa Mosque.