Hours after the entry into force of the ceasefire between Israel and the militias of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Police have confronted the Palestinian faithful on the Esplanade of the Mosques, in the Old City of Jerusalem. The same area where the altercations occurred on Friday hosted the incidents that triggered an escalation of war two weeks ago.
According to the Wafa news agency, 15 Palestinians have been injured due to the clashes that took place this Friday after the intervention of the Israeli security forces near the Al Aqsa mosque, where the faithful were celebrating the truce between Israel and the militias in Loop.
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Some of the injured, who were taken to nearby hospitals, were hit by rubber bullets, while others were drowned by the use of tear gas by the police.
Israeli agents, on the other hand, have described the actions as “riots”, which included the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails at the security forces, who “proceeded to disperse the rioters.”
In addition, a police spokesman explained that the officers increased security measures around the Esplanade and emphasized that at no time did they enter the Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest place in Islam.
While today’s incidents were not of great magnitude, especially compared to those that took place at the same site two weeks ago – when hundreds were injured – the sensitivity of the site and its symbolic value to Palestinians in both occupied East Jerusalem As in Gaza, the West Bank, and even those with Israeli citizenship, any episode of violence there has the ability to escalate rapidly.
