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A new confrontation between the Israeli police and Palestinians in the Al-Aqsa mosque left 17 injured and 9 arrested. This new episode of violence generated fear of a possible seizure of the site by Israel. All this, at a time when the religious celebrations of Muslims, Christians and Jews coincide for the first time in 33 years.
Early this Sunday, April 17, Israeli agents stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City to facilitate the routine visit of Jews to the holy site. This, despite the fact that they cannot pray in this Temple by virtue of some agreements reached long ago.
This new confrontation resulted in 17 injuries, including five people who were hospitalized, according to the medical service of the Palestinian Red Crescent. In addition, nine people were arrested.
Israeli police accused the Palestinians of “desecrating and desecrating” a holy site. He said Palestinians had stockpiled stones and erected barriers in anticipation of violence, while Palestinian officials accused Israel of “trying to divide the sensitive holy site.”
In the videos that circulated on social networks, police officers are seen using batons to subdue the detained Palestinians and evict the religious from the esplanade.
In addition, in one of the videos an agent beats an apparently unarmed Palestinian, for which Israeli policemen have been accused of police abuse.
Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, considered that what happened “is a dangerous escalation, the repercussions of which must be borne solely by the Israeli government.”
These riots came two days after clashes with Palestinians at the same location and at a time when Christian Holy Week, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Jewish Passover week coincided for the first time in 33 years.
Fear of a possible takeover of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israel
Following an assessment of the situation with senior defense officials, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett ordered more security on public buses heading to the Old City.
“We are working to calm things down, on the one hand, and we are cracking down on violent individuals, on the other,” the politician explained.
These practices have fueled concern among Palestinians that Israel is plotting to take over or divide up the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, something Israel denies.
In fact, the Israeli authorities say they are committed to maintaining the status quo, which prohibits Jews from praying in this mosque. However, in recent years large groups of nationalist and religious Jews have regularly visited the site under police escort, something Palestinians see as a provocation.
Jordan, which acts as custodian of the holy site, issued a statement condemning Israel’s actions as undermining “all efforts made to maintain general calm and prevent escalation of violence that threatens security and peace.”
Israel vs Palestine
Last Friday, 152 Palestinians and 3 Israeli agents were injured after the most violent clash between Israelis and Palestinians so far this 2022 took place on the Esplanade of the Mosques.
Between this week and last, Israeli forces killed more than a dozen Palestinians – including a lawyer, several minors and an unarmed woman – in the occupied West Bank, following violent incidents and army arrest operations.
Between the end of March and the beginning of April, 14 people lost their lives in four attacks in Israel.
Given the escalation of violence, Israel increased its security alert, as many fear a conflict dynamic similar to that of last year, when protests and strong clashes in Jerusalem led to a harsh escalation between Israel and Palestinian militias in Gaza.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine dates back to 1967, when Israel captured East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, along with the West Bank and Gaza, although the move has not been recognized internationally. Now the Palestinians are demanding a future state in all three territories.
With Efe and AP
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