Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City on Sunday, clearing the way for Jewish visitors to the site of the blaze, sparking clashes that left 17 Palestinians injured, according to Palestinian doctors. The unrest occurred just two days after clashes with Palestinians in the same area. Violence in Jerusalem between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters a year ago escalated into an 11-day war in Gaza. The complex at the top of the hill that houses the mosque is the third holiest place in Islam, while it is the holiest place for the Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. Competitive claims to the site have sparked many rounds of violence. This year, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Christian holy week culminating in Easter Sunday and the weekly Jewish Passover occur simultaneously, with tens of thousands of visitors flocking to the city after the coronation restrictions were lifted. Israeli police have accused Palestinians of “contaminating and desecrating” a shrine, while Palestinian officials have accused Israel of trying to divide the sensitive shrine. “What happened at Al-Aqsa Mosque is a dangerous escalation, the consequences of which will only be borne by the Israeli government,” said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Iran CONFIRMS THROUGH LABORATORY LABOR MOVED TO UNDERGROUND LOCATION Police said they entered the compound to facilitate a routine Jewish visit to the shrine. They said the Palestinians had gathered stones and set up barricades in anticipation of the violence. Amateur videos circulating on social media appear to show police using batons to subdue arrested Palestinians and drive people away from Spain, accusing them of using excessive force. In one video, an officer beat a seemingly unarmed man with a bat as he stood next to a child. Omer Barlev, the Israeli police chief, said it was important to ensure freedom of worship “but we will not compromise when there is violence and terror”. The police expelled the Palestinians from the extensive adventure outside the mosque itself early on Sunday, while dozens of Palestinians remained in the building shouting “God is older”. The video released by the police shows small groups of young people throwing stones, as well as fireworks being thrown from inside the mosque. Israeli police deploy in the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Israeli police clashed with Palestinians outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque after police cleared Palestinians of the area to facilitate the visit. and accused the Palestinians of stacking stones in anticipation of the violence. (AP Photo / Mahmoud Illean) Palestinians reported brief clashes with Israeli police just outside the mosque, while police said Palestinians threw stones at buses outside the Old City. Rescuers said five people on the buses were being treated for minor injuries in the attacks. Police have released a video showing a crowd of young people throwing stones at a passing bus just outside the Old Town. Another video from the police, taken inside one of the buses, shows Jewish families sitting on the floor of the vehicle as it continued on its way. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has ordered additional security on public buses going to the Old City after assessing the situation with top defense officials. “We are working to calm things down on the one hand and take strong action against violent people on the other,” he said. The Palestinian Red Crescent Medical Service said 17 Palestinians were injured, including five who were hospitalized. Israeli police reported nine arrests. By noon, eyewitnesses said police had moved away from the compound. Jordan, which acts as the custodian of the shrine, issued a statement condemning Israel’s actions, saying they undermined “all efforts to maintain overall calm and prevent the escalation of violence that threatens security and peace.” . According to long-term agreements, Jews are allowed to visit the Temple Mount, but are forbidden to pray there. For decades, Jews avoided worship there for religious reasons. Israeli authorities say they have pledged to maintain the status quo, but in recent years large groups of nationalist and religious Jews have regularly visited the site with police escorts, which Palestinians see as a challenge. The number of visitors often increases during religious holidays. Palestinian officials said nearly 550 Jewish visitors entered the complex, compared to just a few dozen most days. Iran ACCUSES ISRAEL OF “ZIONIST” ATTACK, PROMISES NEW SUPPORT TO PALESTINIANS AFTER CONFLICT IN HOLY PLACE Such practices have sparked concerns among Palestinians that Israel plans to seize or dismantle the Al-Aqsa mosque complex. Israel categorically denies such allegations, saying it is committed to protecting freedom of worship for all. Clashes erupted at the site before dawn on Friday after police said Palestinians had hurled stones at the Western Wall, an adjacent Jewish shrine. The police came into force and collided with dozens of Palestinians shortly after prayer the dawn. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, along with the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 war. The Palestinians want a future state in all three territories. Israel has annexed East Jerusalem in a move that is not internationally recognized and is building and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank. Hamas has controlled Gaza, which has been under Israeli and Egyptian siege since the Islamic State militant group seized power in 2007. A radical Jewish group recently invited people to bring animals to the site to sacrifice them for Easter, offering a monetary reward to those who succeeded or even tried. Israeli police are working to prevent such activities, but the call has been widely circulated by Palestinians on social media, along with calls on Muslims to prevent any sacrifices. CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION Israeli police have accused Palestinians of spreading misinformation on social media, escalating tensions.
