Canada Global (Web News) Several worshippers were reportedly attacked by Israeli police on Wednesday morning before dawn in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, according to witnesses. According to Israeli authorities, the attacks were a response to disturbances.
In response to sirens sounding in southern cities, the incident provoked demonstrations throughout the occupied West Bank, and the Israeli military said that nine rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel.
Since last year, there has been an increase in violence in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and this month, when the Jewish holiday of Passover and the Christian holiday of Easter overlap, Ramadan, there is danger that tensions may rise even more.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, seven Palestinians were hurt during altercations with Israeli police in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by beatings and rubber-tipped bullets. It said that its medics couldn’t get to the mosque because of Israeli soldiers.
An elderly woman, gasping for air outside the mosque, told Reuters, “I was seated on a chair reciting (the Qur’an).” She cried out, “They threw stun grenades, one of them hit my chest.”
In a statement, Israeli police said that they were compelled to enter the property because masked agitators had barricaded themselves inside the mosque with pyrotechnics, sticks, and stones.
According to the Israeli military, nine rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, at least four of which were intercepted, while the remaining four reportedly fell in open spaces.
