Clashes between Arabs and Israeli security forces occurred Thursday near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. According to Qatari TV channel Al Jazeera, they were caused by the arrival of a group of Jewish settlers on the territory of the Islamic shrine.
Police used riot gear to disperse the crowd of protesters. According to medical sources, at least 12 Arabs were wounded by rubber bullets and dozens of people were injured by tear gas grenades.
The Palestinian MFA in Ramallah condemned the actions of the Israeli security forces and held Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett responsible for the escalation of violence on the Temple Mount.
For his part, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Fadi Hadmi, in an interview with Al Jazeera, accused Israeli authorities of trying to turn al-Aqsa into barracks. "This is unacceptable and violates the status of the mosque," he said. - "The Israeli authorities are challenging the entire Islamic world." The Palestinian minister called on the international community "to stop Israeli provocations leading to a new round of confrontation".
The situation in East Jerusalem escalated on April 15 after a group of Jewish pilgrims visited the Temple Mount. Israeli police dispersed Arab protesters and detained dozens of people. Some 170 Palestinians and eight Israelis were injured then. On 21 April, the Arab League Committee on Jerusalem, meeting in Amman, condemned the Israeli authorities' restrictive measures and demanded free access to Al-Aqsa for worshipers.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials TASS