Israeli forces clash with Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Gaza – Mohammad Habib An Israeli officer was injured, while 3 Palestinians were arrested, Sunday morning, during clashes with Israeli police, who have heavily deployed before the holy Aqsa Mosque, preparing for the entrance of extremists who aim to maintain what they call “Jewish sovereignty over the Temple Mount.”
Local sources reported that extremist settlers gathered near the Al-Magharba Bridge, which leads to the Al-Magharba Gate, west of the Al-Aqsa mosque, while dozens of Israeli policemen were deployed in the area.
The police allowed the settlers through and prevented all Palestinians, of age 45 and less, from entering the area while on their way to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque. Such action led to clashes between the Palestinians on one side, and the Israeli soldiers and settlers on the other. Initial Israeli reports stated that three soldiers were mildly wounded. Other local reports stated that several Palestinians and one police officer were injured, in addition to the detention of 3 Palestinians.
Al-Quds Media Center previously reported that some extremist settler groups, including extremist members of the “Trustees of the Temple”, called on their followers to break into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in order “to affirm the Jewish control and sovereignty on the mosque” a first step towards “rebuilding the temple.”
Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said forces entered the site after stones were thrown at a group of Christian tourists. Police detained three Palestinians inside the compound, he said.
Official PA news agency WAFA said police sealed the entrances to the holy Aqsa Mosque, and dozens of worshipers remained inside the mosque to defend it against feared attack.
Rosenfeld said the site was not closed to worshipers, adding that forces had "prevented disturbances" and now left the compound.
Tensions at the sacred complex have been heightened after far-right Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin tried to make a publicized visit to the site a week ago, and leaflets were distributed around the city calling to remove "Israel's enemies" from the site.
Police also blocked Feiglin from entering and briefly closed the holy compound last Sunday, saying they feared unrest after the extremist literature circulated the city.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian outgoing government in Gaza issued a statement, copied to ‘Arabstoday’, warning of possible massacres by the Zionist occupation and settlers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Spokesman of the Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip Taher al-Nono warned in a press conference, Sunday, of “a new massacre by the forces and their settlers in Al-Aqsa”. He urged a quick interference to protect the holy sites, holding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable for the consequences of such events.
Hamas spokesperson, Fawzi Barhoum, stated that the settlers are trying to wage a religious war against the Muslims and the Palestinians, and called for a massive revolution to protect Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestine amidst ongoing attacks by the settlers, and repeated calls for breaking into the mosque.
The compound, containing the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, is the third holiest site in Islam and abuts the site where Jews believe the ancient Second Temple stood, attracting the far-right to pose the rebuilding of the Jewish site on the sanctuary.