More than 170 Palestinians have been injured after Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and dispersed worshippers elsewhere in occupied East Jerusalem, as weeks-long tensions between Israel and the Palestinians over Jerusalem soared again.
Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of Palestinian worshippers packed into the mosque on the final Friday of Ramadan and many stayed on to protest in support of Palestinians facing eviction from their homes on Israeli-occupied land claimed by Jewish settlers.
During the past week, residents of Sheikh Jarrah, as well as Palestinian and international solidarity activists, have attended nightly vigils to support the Palestinian families under threat of forced displacement.
Israeli border police and forces have attacked the sit-ins using skunk water, tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and shock grenades over the past few days. Dozens of Palestinians have been arrested.
Here are the latest updates:
2 hours ago (03:35 GMT)
US ‘extremely concerned’ about violence in Jerusalem
The US State Department said it is “extremely concerned” about the violence in Jerusalem and called on Israeli and Palestinian officials “to act decisively” to deescalate tensions.
Ned Price, the department’s spokesman, posted the statement in his social media account late on Friday (02:35 GMT Saturday).
“There is no excuse for violence, but such bloodshed is especially disturbing now, coming as it does on the last days of Ramadan. This includes Friday’s attack on Israeli soldiers and reciprocal ‘price tag’ attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, which we condemn in no uncertain terms.”
Price added that the US is also “deeply concerned” about the potential eviction of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods of Jerusalem.
We are extremely concerned about ongoing confrontations in Jerusalem, including on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount and in Sheikh Jarrah. We call on Israeli and Palestinian officials to act decisively to deescalate tensions & bring a halt to the violence. https://t.co/WV5adgCfmS
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) May 8, 2021
4 hours ago (01:39 GMT)
Possible Israel war crimes in east Jerusalem land right case: UN
The United Nations has urged Israel to call off any forced evictions in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, warning that its actions could amount to “war crimes”.
“We call on Israel to immediately call off all forced evictions,” UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva.
“We wish to emphasise that East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory, in which international humanitarian law applies,” Colville said.
“The occupying power… cannot confiscate private property in occupied territory,” he said, adding that transferring civilian populations into occupied territory was illegal under international law and “may amount to war crimes.”
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7 hours ago (22:33 GMT)
At least 184 injured in Jerusalem clashes
The Reuters news service reports that 178 Palestinians and six police officers have been injured after Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and dispersed worshippers in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service said 88 of the Palestinians injured were taken to hospital after being hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.
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8 hours ago (21:34 GMT)
Wounded toll rises to 169 in Jerusalem clashes
The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said they have now recorded 163 people injured after Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and dispersed worshippers elsewhere in Jerusalem, including 83 who were hospitalised.
Israel said six police officers were wounded.
The Red Crescent also said it had established a field hospital in Jerusalem to deal with minor and moderate injuries to reduce the pressure on hospitals.
Violent clashes broke out after #Israel 🇮🇱 security forces stormed the #Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East #Jerusalem on the last Friday of #Ramadan
Initial reports indicate several injuries among #Palestinian 🇵🇸 worshippers https://t.co/gggy7JVLIa
— Saad Abedine 🤬😷🤟🏼 (@SaadAbedine) May 7, 2021
8 hours ago (21:14 GMT)
Clashes continue at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Hours after clashes first broke out, large reinforcements from the Israeli police forces continued to stream into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Palestinian activists reported that Israeli forces were continuing to target worshippers in the compound as a large numbers of Palestinians held prayers inside the mosque.
الاشتباكات مستمرة الان في ساحات #المسجد_الأقصى #القدس pic.twitter.com/eVN7DX4vsq
— reema mustafa (@rimamustafa3) May 7, 2021
9 hours ago (21:00 GMT)
Calls for Israeli police to withdraw
Appealing for calm on the compound through the mosque’s loudspeakers, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, the director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, called on Israeli police to halt their attacks and withdraw from the mosque courtyard.
“Police must immediately stop firing stun grenades at worshippers, and the youth must calm down and be quiet!”
9 hours ago (21:00 GMT)
Iran’s Khamenei calls for continuing ‘resistance’
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called in a televised address for continuing armed “resistance” in the Palestinian territories and urged Muslim nations support it.
“The downward and declining movement of the Zionist regime has begun and will not stop,” said Khamenei as Iran marked its own al-Quds, or Jerusalem, Day.
The national holiday typically features anti-Israel protests and fiery speeches by Iranian leaders predicting Israel’s demise.
9 hours ago (20:47 GMT)
Hamas warns of consequences
Ismail Haniya, chief of the Hamas political bureau, has warned of “consequences for the aggression” at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Haniya reportedly contacted a number of officials in the region calling on their support to stand up to the attacks on Palestinian worshippers in Al-Aqsa, reported Palestinian media.
Mahmoud al-Zahhar, another member of the Hamas political bureau, condemned Arabs leaders for remaining “silent as they watch the attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
He said the only solution to the situation in Jerusalem would be through “armed resistance”.
9 hours ago (20:41 GMT)
Situation expected to ‘flare up’ in next few days
Reporting from Ramallah, Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim said that the situation likely to flare up again over coming days.
“We know that two Palestinians have been seriously wounded at least. The rest are still going to hospitals.
“Also, we’ve heard from our sources in Jerusalem that there are Palestinians who were leaving the Al-Aqsa compound that are getting beaten up by the Israeli police,” she said.
“We are expecting this situation to flare up even further as on Monday, there is what Israelis call the Jerusalem Day. It coincides with Laylat-ul-Qadar, which is the holiest nights during Ramadan,” added Ibrahim.
9 hours ago (20:29 GMT)
Protesters hold vigil near Sheikh Jarrah
Police also used water cannon mounted on armoured vehicles to disperse Palestinian protesters and solidarity activists gathered near the homes of families facing potential eviction.
Dozens remained near the entrance of Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood where Israeli police had erected barricades to stop them from entering the residential area.
Some chanted a refrain common at Jerusalem protests: “With our soul, with our blood, we will redeem you, oh Aqsa.”
9 hours ago (20:26 GMT)
Israeli police fire stun grenades inside Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli police attacked worshippers who were praying in the Masjid al-Qiblatain inside Al-Aqsa with stun grenades and rubber bullets.
Palestinian worshippers shared videos from inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque showing Israeli police forces firing stun grenades and worshippers running away as smoke filled the mosque.
Meanwhile, clashes took place between Israeli security forces and Palestinians trying to enter Al-Aqsa through the Bab Al-Silsila, one of the gates to the mosque.
Israeli police also attacked young Palestinians in front of the Damascus and Es-Sahire gates of the Old City.
9 hours ago (20:16 GMT)
Turkey condemns Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque
Several senior Turkish officials condemned the raid by Israeli police on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
“Strongly condemning the attack this evening on al-Aqsa Mosque, our first Qibla. It is inhumane for Israel to target innocents praying during Holy Ramadan,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter, referring to the Muslim holy month.
“Will always stand by the just cause of the people of #Palestine,” Cavusoglu added, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured in the Israeli raid.
Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned Israeli police forces for attacking Palestinian worshippers.
9 hours ago (20:10 GMT)
Palestinian president holds Israel ‘responsible’
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said in a televised statement that the Israeli government is fully responsible for the recent incidents in Jerusalem, as well as any repercussions that result from the continuing escalation.
He also voiced “full support for our heroes in Aqsa”.
Abbas also urged the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to protect the Palestinian people.
He underlined that the “brutality and terrorism” of the Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem would only make Palestinians more attached to their national right.
Al Jazeera English
