Trump gave carte blanche to the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its right-wing nationalist supporters while sidelining and punishing the Palestinians. Israel stepped up its battering of the Gaza Strip with continued airstrikes, sending missiles into buildings and other targets. Israel also restricted Palestinian access to the hilltop site, further inflaming tensions, and has apparently allowed extremist Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians free rein, according to Israel and Palestinian activists. All that was before Hamas began bombarding southern Israel with rockets, and Israel responded with airstrikes over the desolate Gaza Strip. Israel said more than a dozen Hamas militants were among the dead; Palestinian officials said the dead included 13 children.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 12, 2021 01:49 UTC