Crossfire between Israel and Gaza after major incidents at a Jerusalem mosque

The Israeli army and militias from the Gaza Strip staged a crossfire in the early hours of this Wednesday, after clashes between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli police at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. This is the first violent incident since the beginning of Ramadanthe ninth month of the Islamic calendar, respected by Muslims around the world.

Specifically, at least nine missiles were fired from Gaza towards Israel, who responded with bombing. Five rockets were intercepted by air defense systems, while another four hit “open areas”. Until now no casualties reported.

In response, “Israel Defense Forces fighter jets bombed a weapons production site and another production and storage belonging to hamas“, an Islamic movement that governs de facto in the Strip and which Israel holds responsible for any attack from within.

This exchange of bullets occurs shortly after the police officers enter Al-Aqsathe third holiest site in Islam and a major source of tension in the area, and clashed with Palestinians who had locked themselves in the mosque with stones.

In this sense, Hazem Qasem, spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, said in a statement that the Palestinian people “will not allow the (Israeli) occupation to adopt its plans in the Al Aqsa mosque.” Furthermore, he described the actions of the Israeli security forces on the site as “an assault” and “a heinous crime“.

For his part, Ismael Haniye, political leader of Hamas, described the incidents in Jerusalem as “an unprecedented crime that will have consequences“, and urged Palestinians from the West Bank and Israel to “go to the Al Aqsa mosque and protect it.”

Palestinians detained and injured in the Al Aqsa mosque

According to information from the official Palestinian news agency wafa, more than 400 Palestinians were arrested and dozens were injured during clashes with the Israeli police. Similarly, witnesses described “a excessive use of force” by Israeli agentswho fired tear gas inside the mosque and fired rubber-coated bullets.

For its part, the police explained in a statement that “masked rioters disturbed order” with “incitement to chants and violence inside the mosque”, where they allegedly “barricaded with fireworks, sticks and stones“.

“After many and prolonged attempts to remove them through an unsuccessful dialogue, the police were forced to enter the complex to remove them with the intention of allowing morning prayers and avoiding violent riots”, completed the official statement which added that one of the police officers was injured in clashes.

In response to these incidents, there have been protests in the West Bank, including in the town of Beit Ummar, where an Israeli soldier was shot by a Palestinian in clashes which, according to the army, included throwing rocks and explosives at the troops they responded by opening fire.

This Wednesday’s episodes mark an escalation of tension in the area, where the most violent start to the year in a long timewith the increase in attacks by both Palestinians and Jewish settlers living in the West Bank, as well as the increase in violent Israeli incursions into the occupied territories.

The number of Palestinians killed in violent incidents with Israel in the occupied West Bank so far this year has risen to 92 – an average of more than one a day and the highest number for that period since 2000. On the Israeli side, 15 people have died in attacks by Palestinians or Arabs – Israelis.

IT​