In a new attack to the Al-Aqsa this Wednesday morning, Israeli police forced into the mosque and apprehended hundreds and injured dozens of Palestinian worshipers.
In the early hours of this Wednesday, several armed-to-the-teeth Israeli police forces stormed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, arresting hundreds of Palestinian worshipers and injuring dozens more.
Although the Israeli police said that the attack was a reaction to rioting that set off a furious reaction across the West Bank and cross border strikes in Gaza by Palestinians, there is no evidence proving that there was a riot at all in the aforementioned-areas.
According to a report by the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 12 Palestinians were wounds from rubber-tipped bullets and many more were beaten in clashes with Israeli police at Al-Aqsa Masque compound, and that Israeli forces were preventing its medics from reaching the area and helping the injured Palestinians. Palestinian lawyer Firas al-Jibrini said that the Israeli police arrested about 500 Palestinians who were taken for questioning.
Eye witnesses who were present in the Mosque’s compound also spoke of the violence and brutality that the Israeli police applied; “In the yard to the eastern part of the compound, the police fired teargas and stun grenades, it was a scene that I can’t describe,” said Fahmi Abbas, a worshipper at the Mosque, adding that the Israeli police members then “stormed in and started beating everyone. They detained people and put the young men face down on the ground while they continued beating them”.
Israel police issued a statement to justify the illegal raid
In an effort to justify the illegal raid to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli police said in a statement this Wednesday evening that they had no choice but to carry out the attack.
“Security units were forced to enter the compound after masked agitators locked themselves inside the mosque with fireworks, sticks and stones,” the statement noted.
Claiming that a police officer was wounded in the leg, the statement added that “when the police entered, stones were thrown at them and fireworks were fired from inside the mosque by a large group of agitators”.
Arab countries sharply rebuked Israel for the unjustified attack
In response to Wednesday’s attack to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest shrine in Islam that is also the most sacred site in Judaism, many Muslim countries issued harsh statements and rebuked the Israeli police. Jordan, for example, condemned the attack and urged Israel to “stop such escalatory moves” as they only “lead to more violence” in the occupied lands of Palestine.
Likewise, Egypt also lashed put at the Israeli government and condemned the attack, calling upon the Israeli police forces to “immediately release” the detainees and “never again enter the Mosque”. Good to mention that both Jordan and Egypt are involved in recent US-backed efforts to de-escalate tensions between Israel and the Palestinians.
Saudi Arabia also condemned Israel for the attack and said Israel’s “storming” of Al-Aqsa undermined peace efforts” Israel is also trying to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia and include the Kingdom in the Abraham Accords.
Violent clashes between Israel and Palestine have been high over the last year, with Israeli military increasing near-nightly raids on Palestinian cities and holy sites, and Palestinians having staged several retaliatory attacks against Israelis. At least 88 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year, while Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed 15 people in the same period.
