Over 150,000 Palestinians attended the Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem despite hazards by Israeli Police.
Israeli police assaults put a different taste in the another Friday prayers of the Islamic holy month at the Al-Aqsa complex. However, local sources say that more than 150 thousand Palestinians visited the mosque to say their prayers.
After morning services yesterday, Israeli police attacked the mosque, wounding over 30 Palestinian worshipers, including a number of reporters. Worshipers witnessed attacks with rubber-coated bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas.
The operations, according to Israeli officials’ claims, aimed to be a reaction to Palestinian people who hurling rocks. After noon prayers, tear gas was shot towards Palestinians worshiping at the Dome of the Rock within the Al-Aqsa complex.
Settler intrusions under the cover of police forces have resulted in frequent clashes with Palestinian prayers at the mosque. It happened last week during the Jewish celebration of Passover, while several people inflicted injuries and faced detention.
About 160 Palestinians suffered injuries by Israeli soldiers last Friday. They also detained 400 people within the complex. Throughout the week, dozens more people went through a similar process of injuries and detention.
Despite concerns about the ongoing escalating situation, Palestinians believe that their attendance at Al-Aqsa is vital. “I think it’s very important for people to come to Jerusalem and to Al-Aqsa. You feel belonging, you feel responsibility towards Jerusalem, to teach our children that this is our land, that Al-Aqsa is our religion,” a worshipper told reporters.
For the Palestinian people living in the West Bank, Ramadan is a once-in-a-year chance. Al-Aqsa is open to Palestinian people Jerusalem and Arab citizens of Israel at all times. Outside Ramadan, however Palestinians residing in the West Bank are only permitted to enter the town with a tough military permission.
Jerusalem Battle
The Jewish Passover holidays are over and Israeli people have no excuse the rally at al-Aqsa complex. Israel will also put a limit on the number of Palestinians worshipping at the complex in the last 10 days of Ramadan.
During the last twenty, a surge in Palestinian assaults within Israel has resulted in the deaths of 14 Israeli citizens. On the other side, since the outset of 2022, Israeli troops have massacred over 43 people among Palestinians.
During the same period last year, weeks of demonstrations and assaults by Israeli police on Al-Aqsa turned into a general rebellion across Israel. An 11-day bombardment on the Gaza Strip followed the tensions inside and outside Israel.
For generations, the Al-Aqsa Complex has been a significant flashpoint between Israelis and Palestinian people. It was the epicenter of the historical Intifada, or rebellion, during the first decade of the century.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock ar within a large enclosure, which is a most sacred Islamic zone. Palestinians are indeed concerned about the current security climate, but they think it is vital to attend Al-Aqsa. “There must be a large number of Palestinians at Al-Aqsa – we cannot leave it alone, at all. We see what happens to the youth here, we cannot leave them alone,” an old worshipper said.
Before being able to enter Jerusalem, West Bank citizens must pass through jammed checkpoints and wait for hours. Palestinian people argue that they have to wait for long hours for a short visit, claiming that the trip is more taxing than it should be.
The 150,000 gathering in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque has a serious message for Israeli authorities. Israel knows that any act of violence might instigate pervasive solidarity among Palestinians.
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