Israeli police have clashed with Palestinians at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque a second time, witnesses say, hours after the arrest and removing of greater than 350 folks in a police raid on the compound and regardless of US and UN appeals to ease tensions.
The confrontations, in the course of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of the Jewish Passover vacation, triggered a cross-border change of fireplace in Gaza and stoked fears of additional violence.
Within the second occasion, late on Wednesday, police entered the compound and tried to take away worshippers, utilizing stun grenades and firing rubber bullets, mentioned workers of the Waqf, the Jordanian-appointed Islamic group managing the advanced.
Worshipers threw objects on the police, witnesses mentioned. The Palestinian Purple Crescent mentioned six folks have been injured.
Police mentioned dozens of children introduced rocks and firecrackers into the mosque and tried to barricade themselves inside. The Waqf, nonetheless, mentioned police entered the mosque earlier than prayers have been over.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas mentioned: “Israel’s raid into Al-Aqsa mosque, its assault on worshipers, is a slap to current US efforts which tried to create calm and stability in the course of the month of Ramadan.”
Lower than 24 hours earlier, police raided the mosque to attempt to take away what they mentioned have been masked agitators who locked themselves inside after makes an attempt to take away them by dialogue failed.
The Palestinian Purple Crescent mentioned 12 Palestinians have been injured within the earlier conflict. Israeli police mentioned two officers have been injured.
White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby voiced concern in regards to the violence and mentioned it was crucial that Israelis and Palestinians de-escalate tensions.
Palestinian militants fired not less than 9 rockets from Gaza into Israel after the primary conflict, drawing air strikes that Israel mentioned focused weapon manufacturing websites for the Islamist group Hamas that controls the blockaded enclave.
No casualties have been reported. Hamas didn’t declare accountability for the rockets however mentioned they have been a response to the raid on Al-Aqsa, the place clashes in 2021 set off a 10-day struggle with Gaza.
Simply earlier than the second conflict, two extra rockets have been fired from Gaza.
Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis is Islam’s third holiest website the place tens of 1000’s pray throughout Ramadan. It’s also Judaism’s most sacred website, revered because the Temple Mount, a vestige of the 2 biblical Jewish temples.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Israel was dedicated to freedom or worship and blamed the scenario on “extremists”.
The Waqf described the police actions as a “flagrant assault on the identification and the operate of the mosque as a spot of worship for Muslims alone”.
“Leaders on all sides should act responsibly and chorus from steps that might escalate tensions,” mentioned the UN Particular Co-ordinator for the Center East Peace Course of, Tor Wennesland.
After an emergency assembly, the Arab League condemned the raid and mentioned it endangered regional stability.
The incident added to an already fevered political environment in Israel, which is reeling from weeks of protests of Netanyahu’s plans to rein within the powers of the Supreme Court docket.
Far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir referred to as for a harsh response. “Hamas rockets require greater than blasting dunes and empty websites. It is time to rip heads off in Gaza,” he mentioned in a tweet.
