Ramallah: Israeli colonists raided the Al Aqsa holy compound on Monday, despite Israeli security forces preventing them access the day before.
Led by Likud Knesset member Moshe Feiglin and Public Security Minister Yitzhaq Aharanovich, the colonists answered a call by Feiglin for tens of thousands of Jews to raid the mosque. Feiglin, an extreme hardliner, has led Jewish raids into the Al Aqsa compound in the past. Israeli security forces has closed off the compound to Jews after a massive show of Palestinians from Jerusalem and 1948 areas showed up on Sunday to defend the mosque.
According to the sources, immediately after the dawn prayers, Israeli security forces raided the mosque from Al Magharibah and Al Silsilah gates, attacking Palestinians inside with tear gas bombs, sound bombs and rubber-coated bullets. The Palestinian worshippers were locked inside Al Qibli Mosque.
Israeli occupation forces then cut off electricity at the mosque. At least 50 Palestinians were injured in the clashes.
Because the Palestinians were trapped inside the mosque, it was impossible to dispatch medical assistance to the wounded, Mahmoud Abu Atta, coordinator of the Al Aqsa Institution, told Gulf News.
Clashes and tensions are expected to intensify in the coming days, according to Fakhri Abu Diab, a member of the Higher Committee in Defence of (occupied) Jerusalem. Speaking to Gulf News, he added that Israeli occupation forces have cutt off all roads leading to the Old City, which will make it extremely difficult for Palestinians to reach.
He said that there have been several calls to the residents of occupied East Jerusalem, and the Palestinians of the 1948 areas to move immediately to Al Aqsa Mosque to defend it. “Palestinians of the 1948 areas constitute the safety valve for Al Aqsa Mosque as the current deteriorating conditions are expected to last until the end of the Jewish festival of Sukkot on Thursday,” he said. He added that Wednesday night will be the key night of the feast when tens of thousands of Israeli colonists are expected to attend major celebrations at the mosque.
The Supreme Follow up Committee of the Arab masses in the 1948 areas announced it will organise a strike at Al Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, urging all the Arabs of the 1948 areas to rush to help the captured mosque. In a statement, the committee urged Jordan to practise its administrative sovereignty over Al Aqsa Mosque.
