Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told reporters that Israeli forces had targeted "a Hamas military operative," while Hamas sources in Gaza confirmed to AFP that one of their commanders had been killed. AMIR COHEN / REUTERSConfrontations between Israeli security forces and protesters have been escalating for weeks. Then on April 16, the first Friday of Ramadan, tensions escalated further when Israel imposed a 10,000-person limit on prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 331 Palestinians were injured in a crackdown on worshipers at al-Aqsa mosque on Monday alone. Israel appeared to take the threats seriously, and its security forces were bracing for possible attacks from the Gaza Strip.
