More clashes on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem

On Thursday evening, Israeli security forces and Palestinians clashed again on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Groups of young Palestinians threw firecrackers and stones at police officers and attempted to barricade themselves in Al-Aqsa Mosque late Wednesday night, Israeli media reported, citing police. They would have prevented believers from leaving the mosque. The police cleared the way for the worshipers to leave the mosque and chased the Palestinians out of the complex.

On Wednesday night, Israeli security forces clashed with dozens of Palestinians on the Temple Mount grounds. According to the police, about 350 people have been arrested. They barricaded themselves in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, set off fireworks and threw stones. Police reportedly used tear gas, batons and flash blasts to evacuate the mosque.

About 40 Palestinians were injured by police brutality and rubber bullets, according to the Red Crescent Ambulance Service.

The area around the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem has repeatedly seen violent confrontations in recent years. In 2021, the situation escalated into an 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas. 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.

Before the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, there were fears that the already tense security situation in the country would worsen. A particularly large number of Muslims currently come to the Temple Mount to pray there during the month of fasting. The week-long Jewish Passover also began on Wednesday. One of the customs is a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Rocket fire from the Gaza Strip

Militant Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have again fired several rockets in the direction of Israel, according to Israeli reports. Warning sirens were heard early Thursday morning in several towns in the border area. said the Israeli army. Seven missiles had therefore exploded in mid-air. According to the information, five were aimed at Israeli territory, two of them at the Mediterranean Sea. The night before, a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed on Israeli territory. No one was injured. As a rule, the Israeli army responds to such an attack with a counterattack.

According to media reports, the militant Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. He was a response “to the events in Jerusalem”. The Iranian-funded Palestinian organization is mainly active in the Gaza Strip, from where it regularly launches rocket attacks against Israel. (saw/sda/dpa)