ISRAELI OCCUPATION POLICE PREVENT PALESTINIANS UNDER 45 FROM ENTERING AL-AQSA
Gaza City, 20 Dzulqa’idah 1434/26 September 1434 (MINA) – The Israeli police on Tuesday evening prevented Palestinians aged under 45 from entering Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage (AFWH) said.
The AFWH said in a statement that this measure came under the Israeli campaign to increase restrictions against Muslim worshipers in the last period, Alray, Palestinian Media Agency quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
It pointed out that the Israeli police imposed tightened security measures on the movement of Palestinians at Al-Aqsa mosque since last Sunday. They confiscated the identity cards of those blocked.
The Israeli police prevented young men under the age of 45 from getting to Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform that night prayer.
Witnesses said that dozens of worshippers performed the night prayer outside the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Violent clashes broke out at night time in Al-Wad Street and Al-Majles gate between the young Jerusalemite men and Israeli forces.
Naser Qos, an eye witness and director of prisoner’s club in Jerusalem, said that the Israeli forces broke into several houses in Al-Wad Street and Al-Majles gate, and severely beat the women and children using their batons; they also randomly fired sound bombs and rubber bullets in the alleys and neighbourhoods.
He pointed out that the soldiers raided a restaurant in Al-Wad Street and assaulted the workers along with damaging some of its contents.
Meanwhile, more than 40 Palestinians were injured on Tuesday after Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and sonic bombs at a protest against a planned rally by Jewish settlers in Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said clashes erupted after Israeli police forces closed off Bab al-Amod area to prevent Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Municipality of Jerusalem has announced rallies across Jerusalem on September 24 as part of the celebration of Sukkot.
There was no comment from Israeli authorities.
Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Tuesday with bruises and burns, and 15 young men were arrested after the Israeli forces suppressed a peaceful sit-in at Damascus gate which the Islamic and National forces called for to stress on the Islamic identity of Al-Aqsa and Arab identity of Jerusalem.
Injuries
Medical sources said that 40 individuals were injured with burns, bruises and wounds after being directly hit by shrapnel of sound bombs and rubber bullets; one young man was directly hit in his head with a sound bomb and lost consciousness. Another was injured by iron shrapnel in his spinal cord. Most of the injuries were in the head, chest and back and the medical sources noted that the Israeli forces used a new kind of rubber bullets which leaves severe burns in the area where it hits.
Arrests
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the Israeli forces arrested 15 Jerusalemites from Nablus Street and Damascus gate. The Center noted that the Musta’ribeen (undercover unit) was deployed in between the participants of the sit-in since it started and carried out several arrests and severely beat the participants.
Jad Qadamani, prisoner’s club lawyer, said that the police arrested: 14-year old Ahmad Khanfar, 15-year old Omar Al-Sheikh Ahmad, 14-year old Omar Abu Sirrieh, 24-year old Sameh Ibrahim E’weisat, Jihad Sa’eedeh, Mus’ab Mujahed, Ma’moon Al-Natsheh, Mohammad Mamlook, Muntaser Ayoubi, Sa’ed Sinokrot, Fadi Mamlook, Amir Abu Sara and Musa Assaileh.
Qadamani pointed out that the young men were severely beat during the arrest process leading to several wounds and bruises among them.
Targeting the medical staff
The Israeli forces targeted the medical staff that was deployed in the streets of Jerusalem to provide necessary first-aid to the injured leaving them with wounds and bruises.
Targeting press crews
The forces also targeted the press crews and worked hard to obstruct their work and prevent them from filming and documenting the incident using their cameras as they were pushed and forced to keep moving from one place to another. Photographer Suleiman Khader was injured in his chest during the clashes by shrapnel of a sound bomb.
The forces also attacked the photographers of Wadi Hilweh Information Center and broke their cameras and equipment as they were covering the arrest of several Jerusalemite young men by the Musta’ribeen unit in Nablus street and they are: Majd Gheith, Mahmoud Qaraeen and Ahmad Siam who was hit with a rubber bullet in his leg that was fired at him from a very close distance, luckily he had his wallet in his pocket. Journalist and photographer Ahmad Jalajel was also injured during the clashes.
The camera of another photographer was also damaged by the forces and when he went to complain to one of the responsible officers, the officer told him “God will compensate you”.
Israeli forces deliberately sprayed colored water on citizens and passers-by in Damascus gate and Sultan Suleiman Street, which led to the injury of several citizens with bruises after falling down because of the water power.
Throwing stones at “Egged” busses
Stones were thrown at “Egged” busses while individuals from the Special Forces and Musta’ribeen were hiding inside the busses and attacked the young men using sound bombs and rubber bullets.
Sit-ins despite repression
Despite the repression of all Palestinian gatherings, dozens of Jerusalemites insisted on the Arab identity of Jerusalem and Islamic identity of Al-Aqsa. They were gathered in different places and never left Damascus gate and continued chants from 05:00 p.m. until 08:30 p.m.
Clashes broke out in Nablus Street, Damascus gate, Sultan Suleiman Street and Salah Eddin Street. The force broke into the busses parking garage in Nablus Street and Sultan Suleiman.
During the peaceful sit-in, one settler raised the Israeli flag and was calling out racist statements against Arabs and Muslims under the protection of the police; shoes were thrown at him and the forces responded with heavily firing sound bombs towards the citizens. (T/P02/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
