Israeli police assaulted dozens of worshippers in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, while Israeli police claimed it was a response to rioting.
The incident caused protests throughout the occupied West Bank, and the Israeli military reported that nine rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel after sirens went off in southern towns.
The surge in violence in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem over the past year has raised concerns that tensions may escalate this month, as the Muslim holy month of Ramazan coincides with Judaism’s Passover and Christian Easter.
Palestinian Red Crescent
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, Israeli police clashed with worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, injuring seven Palestinians with rubber-tipped bullets and beatings.
The Red Crescent also reported that Israeli forces prevented their medics from accessing the mosque to provide aid.
Outside the mosque, an elderly woman reciting the Quran on a chair recounted how she was hit in the chest by a stun grenade thrown by the police, causing her to cry.
In a statement, Israeli police claimed that masked agitators had locked themselves inside the mosque with fireworks, sticks, and stones, forcing them to enter the compound.
The statement further stated that a large group of agitators inside the mosque threw stones and fired fireworks at the police, injuring a police officer in the leg.
Violent incidents have occurred in recent years due to friction at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as the Temple Mount to Jews.
Following the recent attacks by Israeli police on worshippers, Palestinian groups have condemned the actions as a crime, warning the occupation not to cross red lines at holy sites, which could lead to a major explosion. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, made the statement.
Jordan and Egypt, both involved in recent US-backed efforts to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Palestine, have also released statements condemning the incident.
Social media has displayed videos of police beating people and setting off fireworks inside the mosque, but Reuters cannot verify their authenticity at this time.
The Israeli military reported that a total of nine rockets fired from Gaza toward Israel and at least four of them intercepted.
The remaining four rockets landed in open areas.
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