Topline
Fighting broke out in the early hours Friday morning between Israeli security forces and Palestinians around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem after Israeli police said masked men carrying Hamas flags threw stones at them, leading them to enter the compound of the mosque — a site sacred to both Jews and Muslims —which escalated into a clash that injured over 100 Palestinians as tensions continue to rise following a series of attacks across the region.
Israeli security forces take position during clashes with Palestinians demonstrators at the Al Aqsa … [+]
Key Facts
Israeli police said masked men carrying Hamas and Palestinian Authority flags set off fireworks after prayers started at 4 a.m. and Palestinians began to throw rocks.
The violence escalated when Israeli security forces entered the compound to “disperse violent rioters desecrating the mosque” who were “endangering the public,” according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Videos circulating online show Palestinians—who were gathered for prayers on the second Friday of Ramadan— throwing stones and fireworks, while police fired tear gas and sound grenades.
The clash left at least 152 Palestinians injured, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, with Israeli seucirty forces saying several officers were also hurt.
Though the clash came to a halt, many more people are expected to pour into Jerusalem on Friday for a rare convergence of Ramadan, Passover and Easter.
Israeli National Security Minister Omer Barlev said Israel had “no interest” in violence at the mosque, while Hamas condemned what it described as “brutal attacks.”
Key Background
The fighting follows a wave of violence across the region, including five Palestinian attacks that killed 14 people in Israel. Israel in response has stepped up military operations across the occupied West Bank with the stated aim of preventing further attacks. At least 25 Palestinians also have been killed in the recent violence, according to the Associated Press, including three on Wednesday, among them a teenage boy and a laywer, who were shot and killed in three seperate incidents by Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Officials had been wary of further attacks during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover, a period during which tensions tend to escalate. The mosque compound also was a site of violence during the start of Ramadan last year, when more than a hundred Palestinians were wounded and several Israeli police officers were injured in clashes. The conflict led to an 11-day war between Hamas and Israel that caused significant destruction in the Gaza strip and left more than 200 people dead.
Further Reading
Clashes Erupt at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Leaving 152 Palestinians Hurt (Time)
Five People Killed In Israel Shooting—The Country’s Fifth Attack In The Last Last Two Weeks (Forbes)
Palestinians clash with Israeli police at major holy site (ABC News)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/04/15/over-150-injured-as-israeli-police-clash-with-palestinians-at-al-aqsa-mosque/