Palestinian al-Aqsa protesters come under attack from Israel

JERUSALEM: Israeli forces injured scores of Palestinians, including medics, journalists, and a 10-year-old girl on Tuesday night, as ongoing demonstrations against new Israeli security measures at al-Aqsa Mosque, were again suppressed.

The clashes came hours after Israeli authorities removed metal detectors installed at the mosque’s gates last week – only to replace them with more advanced surveillance technology at the holy site and throughout the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.

Palestinians have maintained their objection to all new security measures, and are demanding that the situation return to how it was before July 14, when a shoot-out at the compound provided an impetus for Israel to further impose its control over al-Aqsa, in contravention of agreements under which the Jordanian, Palestinian-led Islamic Endowment administers the site.

Israeli forces attacked Palestinians who were performing the Isha, nighttime prayer inside and outside the walls of the Old City, as part of an ongoing civil disobedience movement that has so far left four Palestinian demonstrators killed and more than 1 000 injured.

Israeli soldiers chased thousands of worshippers, including women, children and the elderly, firing stun grenades and tear gas.

Israeli police pushed and beat worshippers with batons in an attempt to disperse them from the Lions’ Gate entrance to the Old City.

Medics and journalists were also assaulted.

Young Palestinian men then clashed with Israeli forces in areas of East Jerusalem. – Ma’an