There were injuries during the clashes late Tuesday night that broke out in the mosque and some other neighbourhoods in the old city….reports Asian Lite News
Israeli police clashed with dozens of Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City after the latter barricaded themselves in the shrine ahead of the eve of the Jewish Passover holiday.
There were injuries during the clashes late Tuesday night that broke out in the mosque and some other neighbourhoods in the old city, Xinhua news agency reported citing local media.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, on Wednesday warned against the Israeli violations in the mosque, saying that “the Israeli occupation authorities” crossing the red lines in the holy places would lead to a big explosion in the entire region.
Israeli police said in a statement that dozens of young adults armed with sticks, stones, and fireworks barricaded themselves in the mosque earlier in the evening to start a violent disturbance.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the most sacred site, is regarded by Muslims as their third holiest site.
The holy site has been administered by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a Jordanian body, since 1948.
Under a 1967 agreement between Israel and Jordan, non-Muslim worshippers can visit the compound but are prohibited from praying there.
In April 2022, the mosque compound witnessed violent clashes between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli police forces when Jews visited the holy site.
This latest incident comes amid growing tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that have been going on since the beginning of this year.
At least 89 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed since January, while 15 Israelis were killed in a series of attacks in the same period of time, according to official figures.
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Air strikes on Gaza
Israel on early Wednesday carried out intensive airstrikes on military facilities in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets fired from the Palestinian enclave, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.
Security sources in Gaza said that the airstrikes targeted two military posts of the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas in southwest and central Gaza Strip.
The posts suffered severe damage with no injuries reported.
Israeli Radio reported that Palestinians fired rockets and mortars from the enclave to southern Israel, causing no injuries but damage to a building.
The radio added that the rocket attack happened after clashes broke out between Israeli police and Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and some other neighborhoods in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Palestinians want East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967, to be the capital of their future Palestinian state, while Israel considers the whole of Jerusalem as its eternal capital.
Netanyahu speaks with MBZ
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call from Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu during which they discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in a manner that serves common interests.
Sheikh Mohamed affirmed the UAE’s ongoing commitment to bilateral relations with Israel, describing its cooperation as a strategic approach to peace and development, which is an aspiration for the entire region. His Highness also confirmed the UAE’s willingness to augment efforts to further develop this promising relationship.
The President indicated that the Abraham Accords provides an effective framework to further foster bilateral cooperation, and emphasised the UAE’s continued effort to collaborate across multiple fields and sectors.
He pointed to the countries’ Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into effect 1st April 2023, as well as the joint efforts on climate action, and working towards delivering a successful COP28 in the UAE later this year, as practical examples of what this growing relationship is achieving on a daily basis.
The President also reaffirmed that the UAE will work with Israel, fellow Arab nations, and international partners to avoid regional escalation and advance a path to peace and stability. His Highness reconfirmed that the UAE will support all positive action towards achieving these important goals.