The Islamic Hamas movement has claimed responsibility for firing over 45 rockets from Gaza into Israel. "Hamas military wing al-Qassam Brigades struck occupied Jerusalem with a barrage of rockets," Xinhua news agency quoted a spokesman of al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas, as saying on Monday night. "Firing the rockets was a response to the occupier's crimes and aggression against the holy city and harassing our people at Al-Aqsa Mosque and the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah," the spokesman added. Eyewitnesses said they saw dozens of rockets were launched and white smokes rising into the sky. They also heard the sound of explosions after Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted some of the rockets. Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Jonathan Conricus said that the rockets mostly landed in open areas on the border with Gaza. (IANS)