Iron Dome Video Showing Israel's Defense System Intercept Rockets Viewed 1M Times

A video that showed Israel's Iron Dome system intercepting rockets as they plunged towards the city of Ashkelon has been viewed more than 1 million times.

The clip, which has now been viewed more than 1.2 million times on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Twitter account, showed the night sky light up as rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome system.

Accompanying the 40-second clip, the IDF said: "Intercepted: Terrorists recently fired another barrage of rockets from Gaza toward the Israeli city of Ashkelon.

"We intercepted the rockets with the Iron Dome Aerial Defense System, and are now striking Hamas terror targets."

The video was uploaded on Monday night as tensions between Israelis and Palestinians erupted after weeks of increasing hostility.

Israel's Iron Dome defense system was first deployed in 2011 and was designed to destroy short-range rockets. Since its deployment, rocket fatalities have been low among Israeli citizens.

Violent clashes escalated after protestors took to the streets to oppose the eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem.

Police also clashed with worshippers at the al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, and used stun grenades and fired rubber bullets at Palestinians who had hurled rocks at them.

Alarming footage also showed police using stun grenades inside the mosque itself as worshippers screamed and ran away from officers.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Monday that some 300 Palestinians had been injured, with seven being seriously wounded. Israeli police said 21 police were injured, according to Reuters.

On Monday, militants attached to Hamas, which the U.S. has labeled a terrorist organization, launched more than 50 rockets towards Israel.

The rockets were then met with Israeli officials responding by launching an airstrike into Gaza.

Authorities in Gaza said at least 20 people had been killed, including nine children and a Hamas commander.

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Hamas had "crossed a red line" when they fired rockets in the outskirts of Jerusalem.

He added: "Whoever attacks us will pay a heavy price."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday that President Joe Biden had been briefed about the developments in the region.

She added: "We have serious concerns about the situation, including violent confrontations that we've seen over the last few days."

National security adviser Jake Sullivan also spoke with his counterpart in Israel, Meir Ben-Shabbat on Sunday.

Psaki said Sullivan "reiterated concerns about the potential evictions of Palestinian families from their homes, and they agreed that the launching of rocket attacks and sending incendiary balloons from Gaza towards Israel is unacceptable, and must be condemned."