Palestinians Clash with Israeli Police at Jerusalem Holy Site

Arab World

April 29th, 5:35am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Palestinian rescue workers attend to an injured man during clashes with Israeli security forces at the compound that houses Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City, April 22, 2022. /Reuters

Israeli police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades towards rock-hurling Palestinian youth at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, the latest outbreak of violence at a site revered by Muslims and Jews alike. At least 12 Palestinians were injured in the early morning clashes at Islam's third-holiest site, Reuters quoted the Palestinian Red Crescent as saying. Israeli police said they intervened when hundreds of people began hurling rocks and fireworks, including in the direction of the Western Wall, where Jewish worshippers gather. "We will continue to act decisively against rioters and outlaws for public safety and security," the police said in a statement. There were almost daily confrontations at the mosque this month when Ramadan overlapped with the Jewish celebration of Passover, which brought hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Jews to the heavily policed compound in the old city. However, the violence had abated this week following the end of Passover and after Israel halted Jewish visits to the huge esplanade which is home to the gilded 7th-century Dome of the Rock and the 8th-century Al-Aqsa mosque.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3618836/palestinians-clash-israeli-police-jerusalem-holy-site