More than 350 arrested in clashes at mosque in Jerusalem

The clashes in one of the most iconic places for Muslims coincided with Islamic Ramadan and Jewish Passover celebrations, amid a particularly tense atmosphere between Israelis and Palestinians since New Year’s Day. The incident took place in the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 5.

The Palestinian Islamist movement in power in the Gaza Strip, Hamas, condemned an “unprecedented crime” and called on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to “flood to Al-Aqsa to defend the Masjid.”

The mosque stands on the Temple Mount, the third holiest site in Islam, in East Jerusalem, the part of the holy city occupied by Israel and annexed by Palestine.

The promenade is built on the so-called Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.

United Nations Middle East mediator Tor Wennesland expressed his “concern” and said that “leaders on both sides must act responsibly and refrain from any action that could escalate tensions”.

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Palestinians search for their belongings after fighting broke out at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on April 5, 2023, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Israeli police said they had intervened to evacuate people they described as “rebels”.

“Violence has no place in a sacred place and in a sacred time,” the US Office of Palestine Affairs said on Twitter.

In the morning, calm returned to the compound, which was closely guarded by the Israeli police, who filtered the entrances in the area.

Abdelkarim Ikraiem, a 74-year-old Palestinian who was there, said Israeli troops entered the mosque at night and “smashed doors and windows” while worshipers were praying there.

“They beat the believers with sticks, pistols, tear gas bombs and smoke bombs,” he said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Wednesday it had treated at least 37 wounded.

“mixers”

A video released by Israeli police shows what appears to be fireworks explosions and people throwing stones at the shrine.

Another police video shows riot police breaking into the mosque and protecting themselves from rocket fire.

The footage shows a barricaded door, fireworks on the carpet and police evacuating at least five people in handcuffs.

In a statement, the police condemned the action of “several young bandits and masked agitators who put firecrackers, sticks and stones into the mosque”.

“The leaders barricaded themselves inside for hours. [después de la última oración vespertina] Disrupting public order and disrespecting the mosque’, while shouting ‘slogs inciting hatred and violence’.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said security forces should “take action to restore order” against “extremists”.

“Provocations”

Hussein Al Sheikh, the Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs, said: “The magnitude of the atrocities [de la policía israelí] Urgent Palestinian, Arab and international calls to action.”

Jordan, which controls Jerusalem’s Muslim holy sites, has condemned the “attack” on the mosque and urged Israeli forces to withdraw immediately.

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Orthodox Jewish men burn leavened objects during the Biur Chametz ritual ahead of Passover on April 5, 2023 in Jerusalem.

The Arab League, holding an extraordinary meeting, accused Israel of being the “occupying power” of the situation and warned against any “provocation” that could “hurt the feelings of the believers”.

Morocco normalized relations with Israel in late 2020 and “strongly condemned” the Israeli police’s intervention in a statement released by its ministry calling for respect for the “legal, religious and historical status” of Jerusalem and its foreign holy sites. .

AFP reporters and eyewitnesses said a large number of rockets were fired into Israeli territory from northern Gaza after the clashes in Al-Aqsa.

In retaliation, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes against Hamas’ so-called military facilities in the Israeli blockade of Palestinian territory.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified so far this year. The violence, which has left about 110 people dead since January, resumed last weekend after the relative calm that had prevailed since the start of Ramadan on March 23.

Source: Ultimahora

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