MASS RALLIES IN GAZA AND WEST BANK AGAINST CLOSURE OF AL AQSA MOSQUE

Occupied Jerusalem, 9 Muharram 1436/2 November 2014 (MINA) – Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets after Friday prayer in the occupied West Bank condemning the Israeli decision to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque to Palestinian worshipers.

The rallies moved between the main streets in the Palestinians cities, raised posters and chanted slogans condemning Israeli aggression on the Palestinians in Jerusalem and the worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Sunday..

In Gaza the marches were led by leaders of the Islamic Movement Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Movement and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Leaders from the three parties delivered speeches.

At one of the marches, in the Central Square of Gaza City, Palestinians performed funeral prayers for the Jerusalemite Mu’taz Hijazi, who was killed by Israeli Special Forces after being accused of attempting to assassinate the extremist Israeli Rabbi Yehuda Glick.

Spokesman of the military wing of Islamic Jihad said: “We will defend Al-Aqsa Mosque with our flesh and bones. Anyone assaulting Al-Aqsa will pay the price for that.”

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In their speeches, the leaders of the parties called for the Palestinian Authority to unleash the hands of the Palestinian resistance in the West Bank so that they can protect Al-Aqsa Mosque from continuous Israeli desecration and Jerusalem from increasing Israeli aggression.

Senior leader of the Popular Resistance Movement Nabeel Abu Seif said: “Stopping security cooperation between the Palestinian Authorities and the Israeli occupation, as well as releasing the hands of resistance, is the only way to deter the Israeli occupation and stop its assaults on Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Imams also expressed their grief during Friday speeches over Israeli assaults on Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinian protestors from the West Bank refugee camp of Qalandia arrived at Qalandia Checkpoint, where the Israeli occupation fired live and metal bullets and tear gas at them.

Witnesses told the Anadolu news agency that at least eight Palestinians were wounded and rushed to hospital for treatment, in addition of tens of others who received field treatment after they suffered from the heavy tear gas.

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The protestors raised posters and chanted slogans against the Israeli aggression on Jerusalem and called for an end to the judaisation of the city of Jerusalem and its Mosque.

In Hebron hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets upon their arrival near Halhoul Bridge and violent clashes with the Israeli occupation erupted. No casualties were reported.

Israel closes Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli security forces stand guard at a gate of Al-Aqsa compound, closed to all Muslims by Israeli authorities following shooting of a Jewish rabbi, for the first time since 1967, in Jerusalem on October 30, 2014. (Photo: MEMO)

Interior Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch today ordered the closure Al-Aqsa Mosque in the wake of an assassination attempt on the extremist Rabbi Yehuda Glick.

Police shut the compound to all worshippers and visitors until further notice, Israeli newspaper Ynet News reported.

The step came after an assassination attempt on the notorious extremist Rabbi Glick took place in the city yesterday evening.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Aharonovitch saying hundreds of police have been sent into Jerusalem as reinforcements since the morning, in addition to the already bolstered forces that have been operating in the city.

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Witnesses said there is a heavy police presence in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan, adjacent to the Old City, and a helicopter circled overhead.

Tensions have risen steadily in the eastern side of Jerusalem since just before the savage Israeli war on Gaza that ended in August, with almost nightly clashes between Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian protesters throwing rocks at them.

A major focus of Palestinian anger in the past few weeks has been Jewish settlers moving into largely Arab neighbourhoods and increasing numbers of desecrations by Orthodox Jews, including some politicians, accompanied by Israeli police to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Glick is a central extremist in “Temple Mount” movements and a symbol of the struggle for the Jewish desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli authorities turned right-wing Likud Member of the Knesset Moshe Feiglin, who tried to make his way onto the holy site this morning, back in response to the shooting of Glick. (T/P3/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)