Clashes at a Jerusalem holy site between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators have left 17 people wounded in a bout of Easter Sunday violence.
Just two days after unrest at the same site, Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City today to secure the way for Jewish visitors after they say Palestinians ‘defiled and desecrated’ the Al-Aqsa mosque, while Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to divide the sensitive holy site.
This year the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Christian holy week culminating in Easter Sunday and the week-long Jewish Passover are all happening at the same time, with tens of thousands of visitors flocking to the city after coronavirus restrictions have been mostly lifted.
‘What happened in Al-Aqsa mosque is a dangerous escalation, the repercussions of which are to be borne by the Israeli government alone,’ said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
Police said they entered the compound to facilitate the routine visit of Jews to the holy site, and found that Palestinians had stockpiled stones and set up barriers in anticipation of violence.
They cleared Palestinians out of the wide open area outside the mosque itself early Sunday, while dozens of Palestinians remained inside the building chanting ‘God is Greatest.’
Video released by police showed small groups of youths throwing stones at buses outside the Old City, as well as fireworks being fired from inside the mosque.
Clashes at a Jerusalem holy site between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators have left 17 people wounded in a bout of Easter Sunday violence, just two days after unrest at the same site. Pictured is Palestinian demonstrator being forced out of holy site by Israeli forces
Just two days after unrest at the same site, Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City today to secure the way for Jewish visitors after they say Palestinians ‘defiled and desecrated’ the Al-Aqsa mosque, while Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to divide the sensitive holy site
This year the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Christian holy week culminating in Easter Sunday and the week-long Jewish Passover are all happening at the same time, with tens of thousands of visitors flocking to the city after coronavirus restrictions have been mostly lifted
Paramedics said five people riding in buses received treatment for minor injuries in the attacks.
Police released a video showing a crowd of youths pelting a passing bus with stones just outside the Old City.
Another video from the police, taken inside one of the buses, showed Jewish families sitting on the floor of the vehicle as it continued on its way.
The Palestinian Red Crescent medical service said 17 Palestinians were wounded, including the five on the bus who were hospitalized.
Israeli police reported nine arrests and by midday witnesses said police had moved out of the compound.
The hilltop compound housing the mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam, while it is the holiest place for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.
Police said they entered the compound to facilitate the routine visit of Jews to the holy site, and found that Palestinians had stockpiled stones and set up barriers in anticipation of violence
They cleared Palestinians out of the wide open area outside the mosque itself early Sunday, while dozens of Palestinians remained inside the building chanting ‘God is Greatest’
The Palestinian Red Crescent medical service said 17 Palestinians were wounded, including the five on the bus who were hospitalized
The competing claims to the site have sparked numerous rounds of violence.
Violence in Jerusalem between Israeli security forces and Palestinian demonstrators a year ago escalated into an 11-day war in Gaza.
Omer Barlev, the Israeli minister in charge of the police, said it was important to ensure freedom of worship ‘but we will not compromise when violence and terror take place.’
On Good Friday, ‘dozens of masked men’ marched into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound before dawn carrying Palestinian and Hamas flags, chanting and setting off fireworks, according to Israeli authorities.
In response, Israeli forces entered the mosque compound where thousands of Muslims were gathered to perform prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Palestinian protesters then threw stones and fireworks at Israeli security forces, who returned fire with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas on the sprawling esplanade surrounding the mosque, leaving 67 Palestinians and three Israeli police injured.
Israeli police reported nine arrests and by midday witnesses said police had moved out of the compound
Another video from the police, taken inside one of the buses, showed Jewish families sitting on the floor of the vehicle as it continued on its way
The hilltop compound housing the mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam, while it is the holiest place for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount
The violence took place at Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, which is also home to the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
It also comes at a time of heightened tensions when the Islamic holy month of Ramadan overlaps with the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Jordan, which serves as custodian of the holy site, issued a statement condemning Israel’s actions, saying they undermine ‘all efforts made to maintain the comprehensive calm and prevent the escalation of violence that threatens security and peace.’
The violence took place at Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism, which is also home to the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. It also comes at a time of heightened tensions when the Islamic holy month of Ramadan overlaps with the Jewish holiday of Passover
Groups of Jewish settlers pictured being escorted by Israeli forces after the Al-Aqsa Mosque raid on Easter Sunday
Video released by police showed small groups of youths throwing stones at buses outside the Old City, as well as fireworks being fired from inside the mosque
Under longtime understandings, Jews are allowed to visit the Temple Mount but are barred from praying there and for decades, Jews avoided worship there for religious reasons.
In recent years large groups of nationalist and religious Jews have regularly visited the site with police escorts, something the Palestinians view as a provocation.
The number of visitors often rises during religious holidays. Palestinian officials said nearly 550 Jewish visitors entered the Jerusalem holy site, compared to just a few dozen on most days.
Such practices have fueled concerns among Palestinians that Israel is plotting to take over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound or partition it.
Israel strongly denies such claims, saying it is committed to protecting freedom of worship for all.
Israeli forces entered the mosque compound – something Palestinians always view as a provocation – to remove rocks and stones that had been gathered in anticipation of violence
An Israeli security forces member moves in position during clashes with Palestinian protestors at the compound that houses Al-Aqsa Mosque. Crowds reportedly hurled stones towards the Western Wall – considered the holiest site where Jews can pray.
The number of visitors often rises during religious holidays. Palestinian officials said nearly 550 Jewish visitors entered the compound, compared with just a few dozen on most days.
Such practices have fuelled concerns among Palestinians that Israel is plotting to take over the Al-Aqsa mosque compound or partition it.
Israel strongly denies such claims, saying it is committed to protecting freedom of worship for all.
Clashes erupted at the site before dawn on Friday after police said Palestinians had hurled stones toward the Western Wall, an adjacent Jewish holy site.
Police entered in force and clashed with dozens of Palestinians shortly after dawn prayers.
Palestinian demonstrators clash with Israeli police at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound. Israeli police reported that before dawn ‘dozens of masked men’ marched into the Al-Aqsa mosque compound chanting and setting off fireworks
