More than 20 people were injured on Sunday in renewed fighting around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 19 Palestinians were injured, some of whom were hit by rubber bullets. Five of them have been taken to hospital. Seven other people were injured by Palestinian youths who threw rocks outside Jerusalem’s Old City. The violence on Sunday has pushed the number of injured in Jerusalem to more than 170 since Friday.
According to Israeli police, hundreds of Palestinian protesters had piled stones on Sunday morning, shortly before a planned visit by Jewish believers to the Temple Mount. Security forces intervened to “restore order”. A team of AFP reporters saw Jewish worshipers exit the Temple Mount early this morning. They were accompanied by heavily armed police officers.
In another incident in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, young Palestinians threw rocks at passing Israeli buses. A video released by the police showed two buses with smashed windscreens and side windows. According to its own statements, the Shaare-Zedek Hospital has admitted seven people with minor injuries. Israeli police reported the arrest of 18 Palestinians.
Collide again and again
Last year clashes on the Temple Mount and around the Al-Aqsa Mosque led to days of fierce clashes between the radical Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Israeli security forces. By the time an Egypt-brokered ceasefire went into effect, 260 Palestinians and 13 Israelis had been killed.
The Temple Mount with the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the adjacent Dome of the Rock is considered the third holiest site in Islam (Al-Haram al-Sharif). Judaism venerates the Temple Mount as its holiest site (Har HaBait). Access to the Temple Mount is strictly regulated. Jews are allowed to visit the holy site, but not pray there.
“Clear attack on holy sites”
Palestinian High Representative Hussein al-Sheikh accused Israel of being responsible for Sunday’s violence. “Israel’s dangerous escalation on the Al-Aqsa complex” is a “blatant attack on our holy sites,” he said. Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh said: “The al-Aqsa (mosque) is ours, and ours alone.” Mosques in Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem called on people to go to the al-Aqsa mosque through loudspeakers.
Pope calls for peace in Middle East
In light of the recent violence in Jerusalem, Pope Francis in his Easter message called for “peace” in the Middle East and free access to the Temple Mount for Jews, Christians and Muslims. “May Israelis, Palestinians and all residents of the Holy City, along with the pilgrims, experience the beauty of peace, live in brotherhood and have free access to the Holy Places with mutual respect for the rights of each individual,” he said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
