Over 200 Palestinians injured in Al-aqsa clashes with police
Clashes have broken out over threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinians from their homes
JERUSALEM/BRUSSELS: A night of heavy clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-aqsa mosque compound and elsewhere in Jerusalem, where tensions have soared in recent weeks, left more than 200 people wounded, the Palestinian emergency service said on early Saturday.
Nightly protests broke out at the start of the holy month of Ramadan over police restrictions at a popular gathering place and have reignited in recent days over threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinians from their homes in east Jerusalem, which is claimed by both sides in the decades-old conflict.
Israelis and Palestinians are bracing for more unrest in the coming days.
The Red Crescent said 88 of the wounded were hospitalised, many with wounds to their eyes and face inflicted by rubbercoated bullets and shrapnel from stun grenades. Israel said at least six police were wounded.
At the beginning of Ramadan in mid-april, Israel blocked off a popular gathering spot where Palestinians traditionally socialise at the end of their day-long fast. The move set off two weeks of clashes before Israel lifted the restrictions.
But in recent days, protests have grown over Israel’s threatened eviction in Sheikh Jarrah in east Jerusalem of dozens of Palestinians embroiled in a long legal battle with Israeli settlers trying to acquire property in the neighbourhood.
The United States said it was “deeply concerned” about both the violence and the threatened evictions, and was in contact with leaders on both sides to try and de-escalate tensions.
“It is critical to avoid steps that exacerbate tensions or take us farther away from peace,” the US state department said. “This includes evictions in East Jerusalem, settlement activity, home demolitions, and acts of terrorism.”
The Al-aqsa mosque compound is the third holiest site in Islam.
The sprawling hilltop complex is also the holiest site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple
Mount and revere it as the location where the biblical Temples stood.
EU urges authorities to ‘de-escalate’ tensions
The European Union on Saturday condemned violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians at Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-aqsa mosque compound and urged authorities to quickly calm tensions.
“Violence and incitement are unacceptable and the perpetrators on all sides must be held accountable,” a spokesman said.
“The EU calls on the authorities to act urgently to de-escalate the current tensions.”