A police spokesman said more than 350 people were arrested early Wednesday after clashes at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque.
Police stated in a statement that they had “arrested and removed over 350 violently barricaded individuals” from the mosque in the Old City of occupied east Jerusalem.
“Masked individuals, stone and firework hurlers/throwers, and individuals suspected of desecrating the mosque” were among those detained, according to the report.
Israeli police said they assaulted dozens of worshippers in the mosque’s compound in the early morning in reaction to rioting.
The incident sparked protests throughout the occupied West Bank, and the Israeli military alleged that nine rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel after sirens sounded in southern communities.
Over the past year, there has been an increase in violence in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. As Ramadan, Passover, and Easter overlap this month, tensions may rise.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that seven Palestinians were wounded in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by rubber-tipped projectiles and police beatings. It added that Israeli forces prevented its medical personnel from entering the mosque.
“I was sitting on a chair while reciting the Holy Quran.” An elderly woman told Reuters outside the mosque as she struggled to recover her breath. “They threw stun grenades, and one of them struck me in the chest,” she said as she began to sob.
The Israeli police said hooded agitators forced them into the mosque by surrounding themselves with pyrotechnics, sticks, and stones.
“The police entered the mosque, where a big group of agitators threw stones and fired fireworks,” the statement said. Adding that a police officer was injured in the leg.
In recent years, friction at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, has sparked violence.
According to Palestinian groups, Israel’s assaults on worshippers constitute a crime.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, stated. “We warn the occupation against crossing red lines at holy sites, which will lead to a major explosion.”
Jordan and Egypt, both of which participated in recent US-backed efforts to de-escalate tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, condemned the incident in separate statements.
Reuters was unable to verify social media videos of fireworks and cops beating mosquegoers.
At least four Gaza rockets hit Israel, with the remaining four landing in open areas.
Pakistan condemns Israeli police conduct
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned vehemently the Israeli military’s barbaric assault on the worshippers.
The prime minister stated in a tweet that the assault violated the sanctity of Ramadan.
“The impunity granted to Israel has emboldened Tel Aviv to disregard fundamental human rights,” he continued.
Dr. Arif Alvi, president of Pakistan, stated that Israel “has no regard for any norms of humanity, including the sanctity of religious sites.
“We consider it the height of barbarism to viciously attack worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan,” he tweeted. Adding that the international community must condemn the “brutal and inhumane attack on peaceful worshippers.”
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that the “indiscriminate beating of worshippers. And violation of the sanctity of one of Islam’s holiest sites is abhorrent and an insult to Muslims.”
During her weekly press briefing, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch addressed the incident. He condemned the “brutal attack by Israeli occupation force” in the “strongest possible terms.”
“Israel’s ongoing pattern of oppressive and escalating actions during the sacred month of Ramadan in recent years not only violates the religious freedom of Palestinians but also offends the religious sentiments of Muslims worldwide.
“Pakistan calls on the international community to fulfill its responsibility by taking immediate action to put an end to such inhumane acts of violence against unarmed and innocent civilians,” she said, according to a FO press release.
Imran Khan, leader of the PTI, also vehemently condemned the actions of the Israeli police.
On Twitter, the ex-prime minister stated, “It is the responsibility of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to inform the United Nations Security Council and the international community that such barbaric acts inflict great suffering on Muslims around the world.”
