Israel bombs Gaza Strip after Palestinian Islamists launched rockets over Trump’s decision

Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed two members of Hamas in Gaza after missiles were fired at Israel by Palestinian Islamists.

The deaths bring the number of fatalities in the past two days to four after the Israeli army shot two Palestinians dead in Gaza on Friday.

The exchange of fire with Gaza is the latest outbreak of violence in the fallout from the decision by the US president, Donald Trump, to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

Most countries around the world have not recognized Israel’s 1967 annexation of East Jerusalem and maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Trump’s decision to break that consensus led to Washington being isolated at the UN security council on Friday. Its representative was forced to field strong criticism, including from five European countries which said US policy was not consistent with past resolutions.

The Guardian reports that the continued tensions over Trump’s announcement came as the Palestinian leadership started a series of emergency meetings on Saturday, to decide on the response to US recognition and Trump’s parallel decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.