Occupied Jerusalem — Tension spilled across Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) Friday, October 9, after Israeli occupied troops limited access of Palestinian worshippers into Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest shrine. Fierce clashes broke out between Israeli soldiers and angry Palestinian protestors in Ras el-Amud neighborhood in Al-Quds, reported the Palestine News Agency.
Israeli troops fired tear gas bombs and rubber bullets at the stone-throwing protestors. Many worshippers were also arrested.
Similar clashes also erupted in Wadi Joz neighborhood and Qalandia and Sha’fit refugee camps.
Al-Quds Ailing City (Special Page) The clashes broke out after Israeli troops limited access of Palestinian worshippers into Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the Friday weekly prayers.
Israeli soldiers were deployed in masses across the occupied city and around the holy mosque since early morning.
Checkpoints were set around and within the Old City and Israeli soldiers were seen turning back Palestinians who do not live or work there.
Thousands of Palestinians, barred from entering the mosque, performed the prayers just outside the gates of the Old City under the watchful eye of heavily armed Israeli police.
Tensions have been running high in Al-Quds in the past days after clashes near Al-Aqsa mosque over attempts by Jewish extremists to storm into the site.
Over a dozen of Palestinians were injured and more than 100 were arrested during the recent clashes.
Al-Aqsa is the Muslims’ first Qiblah direction Muslims take during prayers and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka`bah in Makkah and Prophet Muhammad's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al Mi'raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him).
Jews claim that their alleged Temple of Solomon exists underneath Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which houses the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and want to destroy the Muslim holy shrine to build their temple.
Aqsa Defense
Palestinians staged massive rallies and strikes across the occupied Palestinian territories in defense of the holy mosque.
Most stores in Al-Quds Old City were shut down as a part of the strike in the holy city.
Demonstrations were also staged in many cities in West Bank and Gaza Strip following Friday prayers.
In Hebron (Al-Khalil) in southern West Bank, thousands of Palestinians marched across the occupied city hoisting Palestinian flags and shouting anti-Israeli slogans.
Similar marches were staged in Tulkarem in northwestern West Bank.
In Nablus, hundreds of angry Palestinians staged a sit-in in Al-Shuhda square in protest at the Israeli practices in the holy city.
In Ramallah, a strike were staged and most shops and stores shut their doors.
Thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and in refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon held similar mass demonstrations.
The protests came in response to calls from Palestinian groups and Muslim scholars to announce Friday a “Day of Defense for Al-Aqsa”.
In the Holy Sepulchre Church in Al-Quds, Christian leaders from different denominations held a peace sit-in in a show of solidarity with Muslims against Israeli measures in the holy city.
The clergymen, together with scores of Christian tourists from different parts of the world, prayed for peace in the holy city.
Israel occupied Al-Quds in the 1967 Middle East war and then annexed the city in a move not recognized by the world community or UN resolutions.
Palestinians insist the holy city will be the capital of their future independent.
Source: IslamOnline
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