Israeli forces used tear gas and grenade sounds to clear the holy site, assaulting Palestinian worshippers during one of Islam’s holiest festivals.
Rabat – Israeli forces used tear gas to clear scores of Palestinians at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, where worshippers had gathered for Eid Al Adha prayer on Sunday.
They also fired rubber bullets to drive worshippers out of the holy site, as dozens of Jewish settlers came to mark what they call the holiday of Tisha B’Av.
The Jewish holiday is traditionally marked by “an increase of Jewish visitors to the site,” according to Al Jazeera.
As clashes erupted on the holy site, Palestinians started chanting the famous slogan “ With our soul and blood we will redeem you, Aqsa.”
Al Jazeera reporter Harry Fawcett said that the “gate was opened, but no non-Muslims were allowed in. There was this big standoff ad ten we saw the security forces move in to clear that standoff.”
Police fired tear gas and sound grenades, injuring at least 14 people, according to reports.
This is not the first time that Israeli forces have assaulted Palestinian worshippers in the Aqsa mosque compound. In June, Israeli troops accessed the holy site with hundreds of Jewish settlers to mark what they call the “reunification of Jerusalem.”
Al Aqsa mosque, built on top of the Temple mount, is the third holiest site in Islam.
