Several people were wounded in clashes between the Israeli security forces and Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Dozens of Palestinians had barricaded themselves in the mosque on the Temple Mount, Israeli media reported, citing the police on Wednesday night. The police used stun grenades, Palestinians set off fireworks and threw stones.
Twelve Palestinians were injured and several arrested, the newspaper "Haaretz" reported. The Jerusalem Post reported that a policeman was also injured. The Israeli security forces feared that the Palestinians could attack Jewish visitors on the Temple Mount in the morning.
Rocket alert in Israel
Radical Palestinians in the Gaza Strip reportedly fired several rockets at Israel. In the city of Sderot, which borders the Gaza Strip, and other places in the south of the country, alarm sirens have been activated, the army reported. Initially, there was no information on injured or even dead people.
The Palestinian media reported that the six rockets were fired in response to the "forcible expulsion" of worshippers from Al-Aqsa mosque. Who exactly is behind the attacks, was initially unclear. The head of the militant Islamist Hamas ruling in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniya, had previously called on Palestinians to go to Al-Aqsa Mosque and "protect" it.
In recent years, there have been repeated violent confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli security forces on the grounds around Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. But it is also sacred to Jews, because there used to be two Jewish temples there.
Before the beginning of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, there were fears of an intensification of the already tense security situation in the country. Currently, a particularly large number of Muslims come to the Temple Mount to pray there during the month of fasting. On Wednesday, Passover begins. One of the customs is a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The Temple Mount is under Muslim administration, while Israel is responsible for security. According to an agreement with the Muslim authorities, Jews are allowed to visit the facility but not pray there. However, this is repeatedly violated.