Forces 'storm Islam's third-holiest site' during Ramadan and 'beat worshippers'
Palestinian worshippers in a mosque in Jerusalem raided by Israeli police hurled stones at the officers amid growing tensions as Jewish and Islamic holidays overlapped.
Forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City early on Wednesday morning and fired stun grenades at the Palestinian youths inside.
Witnesses said more than 400 men, women and children were praying when police arrived.
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported dozens of worshippers were injured in the raid.
Officers claimed the action was taken as “several law-breaking youths” had barricaded themselves inside armed with fireworks, sticks and stones.
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A police spokesman said: “After many prolonged attempts to get them out by talking to no avail, police forces were forced to enter the compound in order to get them out.”
Images on social media showed worshippers tied up on the ground after the raid (Twitter)The mosque sits on a sensitive hilltop compound holy to both Jews and Muslims
Al-Aqsa is the third-holiest site in Islam and is usually packed with worshippers during Ramadan.
The area, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the holiest site in Judaism which has caused violence to spill over in the past.
Witness Talab Abu Eisha, 49, said: “The youths were afraid and started closing the doors.
Police inside the mosque where hundreds had been praying (Twitter)
The violence comes ahead of Jewish and Islamic holidays overlapping (Twitter)“It was an unprecedented scene of violence in terms of police brutality and intention to hurt the youths.”
He denied police claims young men were hiding fireworks and rocks.
The fighting, coming as Muslims mark the holiday month of Ramadan and Jews prepare to begin the Passover festival on Wednesday evening.
A video taken by Palestinians showed police scuffling with people and beating them with clubs and rifle butts as a woman's voice could be heard shouting, "Oh God. Oh God."
Palestinian youths reacted to the raid by burning tires during a protest on the streets of Gaza City (AFP via Getty Images)Outside the gate, police dispersed groups of youths with stun grenades and rubber bullets.
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Police said one officer was injured in the leg, while dozens of people were arrested.
Palestinian militants responded by firing a barrage of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens in the region as residents were preparing for the beginning of the weeklong Passover holiday.
Israeli police said they had entered the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem to dislodge "agitators" (AFP via Getty Images)The Israeli military said a total of five rockets were fired, and all were intercepted. Hours later, Israel responded with an airstrike in Gaza. There were no immediate details on the target.
The government of Jordan, which serves as custodian of the mosque, condemned the Israeli raid "in the strongest terms." The Foreign Ministry warned "of the consequences of this dangerous escalation and held Israel responsible for the safety of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Tensions have been rising since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new far-right government took office late last year.
Armed Israeli border guards outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque at Lion's Gate in Jerusalem's Old City (AFP via Getty Images)The overlap of the Jewish and Muslim holidays - when tens of thousands of worshippers make their way to contested Jerusalem - has raised fears of violence.
Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged over the last year, as the Israeli military has carried out near-nightly raids on Palestinian cities, towns and villages and as Palestinians have staged numerous attacks against Israelis.
At least 88 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year.
Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed 15 people in the same period.
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