Israeli occupation special forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem yesterday morning for the second day in a row, evacuating Muslim worshippers, including the elderly, to allow right-wing Jewish Israelis to tour the compound freely, Ma’an News Agency reported.
Israeli special forces suddenly stormed the compound via the Moroccan Gate to “protect settlers” who came in, before chaining shut all the gates of the southern mosque (the main mosque in the compound) while dozens of worshippers were still inside.
Yesterday’s raid came a day after Israeli forces clashed with worshippers and injured up to 12 Palestinians when they raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to protect a group of extremist Israelis visiting the site.
Islamic officials accused Israeli authorities of breaking a tacit agreement on access during Ramadan.
Youths threw stones at police deployed at the site, while security forces fired tear gas and sponge-tipped bullets, journalists reported.
Calm later returned to the site. A number of injuries were reported by Palestinian media, though the Red Crescent has yet to provide any figures.
Islamic officials say Israeli authorities are allowing non-Muslim visitors into the compound in breach of a tradition which allows only worshippers to enter during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
The period, which began on Sunday, is the most solemn for Muslims and attracts the highest number of worshippers to the site. Typically non-Muslims, including Jews, are allowed to visit the site during set hours, but cannot pray there to avoid provoking tensions.
A statement from the Waqf, the Jordanian foundation that oversees the site, and Jerusalem Muslim spiritual leaders said Israeli authorities were “breaking a tacit agreement in place for years in a bid to show that they are the ones who have the final say at Al-Aqsa and not the Waqf.”
Jordan also denounced what it called “Israeli violations” of rules at the site and said it had been in contact with Israeli officials on the issue.
Similar clashes had broken out on Sunday, with the Palestinian Red Crescent saying it took seven Palestinians to an east Jerusalem hospital for treatment of injuries from sponge-tipped bullets, tear gas and beatings.