Violent clashes broke out overnight between Israeli police and worshipers the later described as “rioters” inside the Al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, one of Islam’s most iconic places of worship, raising fears of further escalation of tensions as Ramadan, Jewish and Christian Easter coincide this year.
Hamas spoke of an “unprecedented crime”, which called on the Palestinians of the West Bank to “go en masse to the Al-Aqsa Islamic mosque to defend it”.
Israeli police released a more than 50-second video showing what appeared to be fireworks explosions at the place of worship, while silhouettes can be seen throwing rocks.
In another sequence, police officers in riot gear advance into the mosque raising shields to protect themselves from objects being thrown at them.
Police are also shown removing at least five people with their hands tied.
1/9 The Israel Police arrested and removed over 350 individuals that violently barricaded themselves in the Temple Mount, including masked individuals, stone and firework hurlers/throwers, and individuals suspected of desecrating the mosque pic.twitter.com/XT6sXHNBVt
— Israel Police (@israelpolice) April 5, 2023
Other videos released on social media show police brutally beating people inside Al-Aqsa.
Omg … omg omg … Al Aqsa Mosque #Israel pic.twitter.com/pfhuay7Xr8
— Abier (@abierkhatib) April 4, 2023
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least seven Palestinians were injured.
According to the same source, paramedics were prevented from entering the Islamic mosque.
Other sources, such as the Jerusalem Post newspaper, spoke of 13 wounded, 12 Palestinians and one Israeli policeman.
The police said that the operation was carried out to “remove rioters” who had entered the place of worship with “fireworks, clubs and stones” and intended to “disrupt public order” and “loot the temple” while shouting “inciting slogans of hatred and violence”, and that it was decided to take place after many attempts to persuade them to leave peacefully.
However, Palestinian media spoke of riots following a “violent expulsion” of worshipers.
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#BREAKING: Israeli forces storm Al Aqsa Mosque, use gas bombs, sound grenades and mercilessly beat up Palestinian worshipers. Dozens of Palestinian worshippers got injured after being attacked by Israeli occupation troops.#AlAqsaMosque #Palestine #Israel pic.twitter.com/OZnhMhw0AS
— World Times (@WorldTimesWT) April 4, 2023
The Israeli police announced that they had arrested “more than 350” people. “Israeli police arrested (…) more than 350 people” in the incidents on the “Temple Mount,” said the announcement, which uses the Hebrew term for Mosque Square, Islam’s third holiest site and the holiest site of Judaism.
It is noted that the incident took place in the middle of Ramadan and while Jews are celebrating Passover from tonight, against the background of the continued escalation of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year.
A short time after the news broke, at least nine rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory, five of which were “intercepted by air defense” in the Sderot sector (south) and the rest four fell in unpopulated areas.
In retaliation for the rockets fired, fighter jets hit two Hamas training and weapons manufacturing centers in the central part of the Gaza Strip and at around 06:15′ local time new strikes followed in the enclave.
However, no victims were reported.
Earlier, dozens of protesters took to the streets in various locations and set fire to tires and other objects. “We swear to defend and protect Al-Aqsa”, chanted the crowd.
Egypt’s Ministry of Defense in a statement noted that it condemns the Israeli police raid inside the Al-Aqsa and the attack on worshipers”. “Egypt holds Israel, the occupying force, responsible for this dangerous escalation that may undermine efforts to observe a ceasefire, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry added.
Announcements with similar content were also issued by the diplomacy of Jordan -the custodian of the holy places in Jerusalem- and Saudi Arabia.
Nabil Abu Rudayna, spokesman for the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, emphasized that “we warn the occupying force not to cross the red lines in the holy places, because it will lead to a big explosion”.
