Israeli army raids Al-Aqsa Mosque, injures hundreds of Palestinians

Israeli police stormed the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, injuring at least 152 Palestinians as a result of violence by Z...

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Israeli police stormed the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, injuring at least 152 Palestinians as a result of violence by Zionist forces.

 

Three Palestinians were killed in fresh attacks by Israeli forces on Thursday. Photo: AFP

According to the Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, the Islamic Endowment, which runs Al-Aqsa Mosque, said that Israeli police entered the mosque just before dawn on Friday, where thousands of worshipers were present for morning prayers.

The medical staff said that this is the first clash in the area of ​​occupied Jerusalem since the beginning of Ramadan.

According to Israeli police, dozens of masked men marched on Al-Aqsa Mosque before dawn on Friday and set off fireworks, after which the mob hurled stones at the western wall.

 

Also read: Israeli forces fire at Al-Aqsa Mosque, 3 Palestinians killed

The western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the holiest place where Jews worship.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said 20 people had been taken to hospitals in occupied Jerusalem during the clashes so far, with more wounded at the scene, with Israeli police saying three had been injured.

Witnesses said Israeli security forces fired rubber bullets at some Palestinian protesters who hurled stones at them.

The latest clashes come after three weeks of deadly violence in Israel and the Occupied West Bank, at a time when important days of Jews, Christians and Muslims are being celebrated together, the Jewish holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The Christian holiday of Easter and the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims continues in which they fast.

Read more: Palestinian killed by Israeli army firing

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. The Jews call it Temple Mount, which is said to have housed two temples in ancient times.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in the center of the Israeli-Palestinian disputed territory, which borders Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel and Jordan, guarding holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, have stepped up talks to try to avoid a repeat of last year's violence before Ramadan begins.

Clashes in occupied Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan last year led to 11 days of devastating Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Rising incidence of violence

Israel has deployed additional troops in the West Bank and is strengthening its wall and fence along the occupied territories following four deadly attacks in the Jewish state, most of which have been carried out in the past three weeks. Have been killed.

Also read: Israeli forces vandalize Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, firing

A total of 14 people have been killed in the attacks since March 22.

According to the foreign news agency AFP, 21 Palestinians have been killed so far, including the attackers who targeted Israelis.

On Thursday, Israel announced that it would suspend travel from the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the first two nights of the week-long Passover, which runs from Friday afternoon to Saturday, and possibly a holiday. Will keep traffic closed for the rest of the day.

Also read: Israeli army fires on Palestinian protesters, one killed

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has given free rein to Israeli forces to "defeat terrorism" in the region, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War, and warned that the war had "no limits". Will be'.

Some of the attacks in Israel were carried out by Israeli Arab citizens affiliated with or affiliated with the Islamic State group, while others were carried out by Palestinians. Was expressed.

On Thursday, three Palestinians were killed in fresh attacks by Israeli forces in the West Bank region of Jenin.

Two Palestinian civilians were killed during Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank yesterday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, during what the Israeli military called "counterterrorism activities."