US closes embassy in Israel for security reasons

US has announced the temporary closure of its embassy in Tel Aviv due to the deteriorating security situation in Israel.

“Due to the current security situation in Tel Aviv, the US Embassy in Tel Aviv is closed on Wednesday, July 9, for routine services for both visas and services for U.S. citizens. Emergency cases will be considered on a case by case basis,” the embassy said in a notice published on its website.

However, according to Israeli media reports, the embassy remained closed on Thursday as well.

The reports said the embassy suspended routine appointments for visa and other services.

The development came as several rockets launched from the Gaza Strip were intercepted over parts of Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza said they had fired the rockets in retaliation for Israeli aggression against the people of the besieged territory.

The regime in Tel Aviv had warned earlier that Hamas had dozens of long-range rockets capable of striking deeper into Israel than ever before.

Nearly 80 Palestinians have been killed and over 500 others wounded since Israel launched its so-called “Operation Protective Edge” against the coastal enclave on July 8.

Tens of Palestinian homes have been completely destroyed, while more than 1500 others have been partially damaged.

Gaza has been blockaded since 2007. The regime of Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages, and adequate healthcare and education.