Israeli border policemen take position near Al Aqsa Mosque compound amid rising tensions in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters
Israeli border policemen take position near Al Aqsa Mosque compound amid rising tensions in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters
Israeli border policemen take position near Al Aqsa Mosque compound amid rising tensions in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters
Israeli border policemen take position near Al Aqsa Mosque compound amid rising tensions in Jerusalem's Old City. Reuters

Israeli settlers enter Al Aqsa Mosque compound after second night of Jerusalem violence


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Dozens of Israeli settlers entered the courtyard of Al Aqsa Mosque on Thursday morning under the protection of the Israeli police, local media reported, after officers had earlier prevented Palestinians from entering for fajr prayers.

Israeli police on Wednesday forced their way into the mosque in Jerusalem for a second night in a row as Palestinian worshippers were spending the night, witnesses told Reuters.

Police entered the compound and tried to remove worshippers, using stun grenades and firing rubber bullets, Waqf staff said.

Worshippers threw objects at police, witnesses said.

Global criticism and concern mounted after the clashed between police and Palestinians inside Islam's third-holiest site sparked a military exchange of rockets and air strikes.

Two more rockets were fired late on Wednesday from the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israel, the army and witnesses said, in flaring violence during the Jewish Passover and the Muslim Ramadan.

Armed police in riot gear stormed the prayer hall of Al Aqsa Mosque before dawn on Wednesday, aiming to dislodge "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside.

A barrage of rocks and fireworks met the officers, police video showed, and more than 350 people were arrested.

Israeli police attack worshippers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque - in pictures

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "shocked and appalled" by images he saw of Israeli security forces beating people at the mosque, particularly because it came at a time holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims that should signal a period of peace, his spokesman said.

The Arab League on Wednesday strongly condemned the situation, saying it jeopardised regional stability.

In a statement issued after an emergency meeting on the incident, the League condemned what it called "crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against defenceless Muslim worshippers" in the mosque.

The pre-dawn raid could lead to "a spiral of violence that threatens security and stability in the region and the world", it said.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US was "extremely concerned by the continuing violence and we urge all sides to avoid further escalation".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country and Israel have been rebuilding relations, said: "Trampling on Al Aqsa Mosque is our red line."

Violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has intensified since the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a coalition with the extreme right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, took power in December.

Palestinian witness Abdel Karim Ikraiem, 74, said Israeli police armed with batons, tear gas grenades and smoke bombs, burst into the mosque "by force" and "beat the women and men" worshipping there.

One video widely circulated on social media showed police clubbing people on the floor inside the mosque.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said it had treated 37 people, including some after their release from custody.

"The safety of civilians is at risk," it said on Wednesday evening, adding it had been prevented from access to the sick and the injured, in a breach of international humanitarian law.

Israeli police attack worshippers in Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque - video

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voiced "complete backing" for police and their "swift and determined" actions.

Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, called on West Bank Palestinians "to go en masse to Al Aqsa Mosque to defend it".

The mosque has been a frequent flashpoint, and clashes there in May 2021 sparked the latest Gaza war, which raged for 11 days.

On Gaza's streets, protesters burned tyres and swore "to defend and protect Al Aqsa Mosque".

Calm returned to the compound by late morning, when Israeli police escorted a group of Jewish visitors through the site.

An officer told AFP police were allowing only those aged 60 and over.

Israeli police said the Palestinians had barricaded themselves inside the mosque from Tuesday evening, ahead of Passover, which started on Wednesday evening.

Police "were forced to enter the compound in order to get them out with the intentions to allow the fajr [dawn] prayer and to prevent a violent disturbance", after prolonged attempts at talking with the Palestinians failed to get them to leave, police said.

"When the police entered, stones were thrown at them and fireworks were fired from inside the mosque by a large group of agitators," they said.

Mr Netanyahu said "security forces were compelled to act in order to restore order".

Within hours, at least nine rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, the army said, adding that "in response" warplanes struck two suspected Hamas weapons factories.

The air strikes were followed by new rocket fire from Gaza and further Israeli strikes, AFP reported.

Later on Wednesday, witnesses reported two more rockets fired from northern Gaza.

Israel said "one launch failed" and fell in Gaza while the other landed "in the area of the security fence" boundary.

Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-based militant group, called the rockets "a first-warning message".

Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Hussein Al Sheikh condemned the Israeli police action inside Al Aqsa.

"The level of brutality requires urgent Palestinian, Arab and international action," Mr Al Sheikh said.

Germany urged both sides "to do everything possible to calm the situation".

Jordan, which administers the mosque, condemned its "storming", and called on Israeli forces to leave the compound immediately.

The UAE and Morocco, which established ties with Israel in 2020 as part of US-brokered accords, also strongly condemned the Israeli police action.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation rejected all practices that "threaten to further exacerbate escalation". It also criticised worshippers who "barricade themselves".

Rabat's Foreign Ministry stressed the need "to avoid measures and violations likely to damage chances of peace in the region".

So far this year, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 91 Palestinians, 15 Israelis and one Ukrainian, according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides.

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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The specs

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PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
  • The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
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%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
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  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Updated: April 06, 2023, 7:59 AM`