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46 injured as clashes erupt between Palestinians, Israeli police at Aqsa Mosque

Araweelo News Network

Tear gas smoke is seen at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound as Israeli forces disperse Palestinians, who entered the complex in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds on July 27, 2017. (Photo by AFP)


Jerusalem(ANN)-Dozens of people have sustained injuries after clashes broke out between Israeli military forces and Palestinians at al-Aqsa Mosque as thousands of Muslim worshippers entered the holy site in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds after abolition of the Tel Aviv regime’s restrictive measures.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported on Thursday that 46 people had been wounded both inside the mosque compound and in the immediate area.

Some were beaten and suffered fractured bones, while others were struck with rubber-coated steel bullets.

Israeli troopers also fired stun grenades and used pepper sprays, causing several Palestinians to cough and wheeze.

Thousands of Palestinians had earlier streamed into al-Aqsa Mosque for afternoon prayers after Israeli forced reopened all the gates to the compound.

A number of young men then scaled the mosque walls and raised the Palestinian national flag at the holy site. Israeli forces took down the flags shortly afterwards.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Waqf (Endowment) and Religious Affairs Sheikh Yousef Id’es has called on Palestinians to hold Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque.

He said the Israeli regime’s decision to remove controversial new security measures, installed after the July 14 attack, clearly showed that Palestinians were capable of defending their legitimate right of sovereignty over Jerusalem al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque.

On July 14, three Palestinians opened fire on Israeli forces at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, killing two of them before being shot dead.

Id’es added that Palestinians must have religious freedom in Jerusalem al-Quds, and pray at al-Aqsa Mosque without the fear of getting arrested.

Israeli forces dismantled security measures installed at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound late on Wednesday night.

The measures, which included installation of metal detectors, turnstiles, and additional surveillance cameras, had been imposed following the July 14 attack.

Palestinian worshippers have strongly condemned Israel’s new restrictive measures at al-Aqsa Mosque, engaging in bitter clashes with Israeli military forces.

The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed new tensions ever since Israeli forces introduced restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshippers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem al-Quds in August 2015.

More than 300 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces in the ongoing tensions since the beginning of October 2015.

The Tel Aviv regime has tried to change the demographic makeup of Jerusalem al-Quds over the past decades by constructing settlements, destroying historical sites and expelling the local Palestinian population. Palestinians say the Israeli measures are aimed at paving the way for the Judaization of the city.

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a flashpoint Islamic site, which is also holy to Jews. The mosque is Islam’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

admin: #Arraale Mohamoud Jama is a freelance and investigative journalist, writer and human rights activist with more than 20 years of experience. He writes about a range of topics related to social issues such as human rights, politics and security. Other topics in which Mr. Arraale is interested include democracy and good governance. Mr. Arraale has written extensively on regional and international events, and has worked with Somaliland newspapers and Human rights organizations. In 2008, he established #Araweelo #News #website# Network, which he currently manages. For further information, please contact: Info@araweelonews.com or jaamac132@gmail.com Send an SMS or MMS to + 252 63 442 5380 whatsapp.com/ + 252 63 442 5380 /https://twitter.com/Araweelonews/https://www.facebook.com/Araweelonews/
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