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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://imemc.org/article/pchr-iof-raid-al-aqsa-mosque-153-palestinians-wounded-including-3-journalists-and-3-paramedics-and-at-least-400-detained/">imemc.org</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">“IOF Raid Al-Aqsa Mosque, 153
Palestinians Wounded, including 3 Journalists and 3 Paramedics and At
Least 400 Detained” <br></h1>April 15, 2022<br></div>
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<p><a href="https://pchrgaza.org/en/iof-raid-al-aqsa-mosque-153-palestinians-wounded-including-3-journalists-and-3-paramedics-and-at-least-400-detained/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><em>The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PCHR</em>)</strong></a>: At
least 153 Palestinians were wounded, including six in critical state,
three journalists, and three paramedics, during the Israeli occupation
forces (IOF) raid and extensive attacks at dawn today on thousands of
worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque and its yards in occupied East Jerusalem.
IOF launched a mass-arrest campaign after its breach into the holy
mosque, at least 400 worshippers were arrested.</p>
<p>As per PCHR investigations, as al-Aqsa Mosque’s gates were opened and
thousands of worshipers arrived for al-Fajir (dawn) prayers on Friday,
15 April 2022, the atmosphere was extremely tense due to the heavy IOF
presence in the area, and on the rooftops near al-Silsila and
al-Magharba gates.</p>
<p>Thousands of worshippers gathered and prayed; after al-Fajir prayer,
young men prepared wooden roadblocks around the al-Qibli prayer hall in
anticipation of a possible IOF raid.</p>
<p>They fired firecrackers towards al-Magharba gate where IOF stationed.
Immediately, IOF raided the entire Mosque with hundreds of troops; the
soldiers started shooting live bullets, tear gas canisters and stun
grenades aggressively and randomly. As a result, dozens of worshipers
and gathered civilians were wounded.</p>
<p>All the while, clashes erupted between young Palestinian men who
threw stones and pieces of wood at IOF who continued to fire
rubber-bullets, sounds bombs, and tear gas canisters; the latter also
assaulted the worshipers all over the holy Mosque’s grounds and shut all
pathways leading to the holy site, banning medical crews entry, and
hindering ambulances’ access to Bab al-Asbat area to transport the
wounded to hospitals.</p>
<p>IOF also attacked al-Aqsa Mosque guards, medical and media crews, and
paramedics, with rubber-bullets, and clubs; IOF threatened the rescue
crews attempting to reach the wounded inside the Mosque and confiscated
the key to several ambulances. IOF also surrounded al-Aqsa Mosque’s
clinic while offering first aid to dozens of wounded persons and fired
tear gas canisters at it.</p>
<p>Earlier today, IOF troops mounted the roof of al-Qibli Mosque
shattered the top windows, and installed snipers on top. They shot live
bullets, rubber-bullets, and tear gas canisters inside the mosque where
hundreds were worshiping and praying.</p>
<p>Minutes later, large numbers of IOF entered the mosque, and forced
worshippers to lay down. The soldiers physically and violently assaulted
the praying crown, and arrested hundreds. This is a precedent for IOF
attacks on Palestinian worshippers.</p>
<p>The attacks and raid lasted for hours. At approximately 10:00, IOF
took hundreds of hand-cuffed arrestees through al-Magharibah gate,
searched, and inspected them near the Western Wall. Minutes later, IOF
reentered the holy Mosque, and forced worshippers to evacuate, pushed
and assaulted the women present in the area as well, causing clashed to
reignite.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, settlers tried to raid al-Aqsa Mosque carrying sheep upon
calls from settlement organizations to slaughter them for ritual
sacrifices in the mosque, but the Israeli police stopped them.</p>
<p>Due to IOF’s widescale suppression operation that continued for
hours, 152 Palestinians were injured and taken to al-Makassed Hospital
and the Red Crescent field hospital as announced by the Red Crescent
Society in Jerusalem. According to PCHR fieldworkers’ follow-up, 3
paramedics were among those injured; one was injured with a rubber
bullet in the neck and the other 2 sustained fractures in their hands.
Also, 3 journalists were wounded and identified as Mohammed al-Samarin,
Nirseen Salem, who were both injured with rubber bullets, and
photojournalist Rami al-Khatib, who sustained injuries in the head and
hands after IOF severely beat him with batons.</p>
<p>Moreover, 2 of al-Aqsa guards were injured with rubber bullets in
their eyes. Soliman Turkman, the Nursing Director at al-Makassed
Hospital, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that at least 75 persons injured
arrived at the hospital, including one in critical condition, 5 admitted
to the Operating Room immediately, and 35 admitted to the hospital’s
departments. Turkman added that injuries varied and included women,
children, and elderlies.</p>
<p>Lawyer Feras al-Jabrini said that IOF arrested more than 400
Palestinians from al-Aqsa mosque; most of them were in al-Qibli Chapel
and took them in buses from Bab al-Magharba area to Matsuda Adumim
Interrogation Centre.</p>
<p>It should be noted that on Thursday afternoon, 14 April 2022, around
2000 worshippers performed I’tikaf in the Qibli Chapel in al-Aqsa Mosque
despite IOF’s harassment and heavy deployment in the mosque yards, at
its gates and around it to.</p>
<p>This was upon national calls to mobilize on Friday dawn, 15 April
2022, against settlers’ attempts to hold sacrifices after calls from
settlement organizations for the Jewish Passover holiday, which start
today and continue for a week, provoking extensive outrage among
Palestinians. Therefore, the Israeli authorities announced to stop any
sacrifice attempts.</p>
<p>PCHR strongly condemns IOF’s suppression of the Palestinian
worshippers and raid and desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and its chapels
as well as firing live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas
canisters inside it. PCHR warns of the serious repercussions of the
escalating violence and settlers’ conduct that is backed by IOF’s
official protection.</p>
<p>PCHR reiterates that East Jerusalem is an occupied city, and the
Israeli authorities’ measures taken after the occupation of the City in
1967 would not change its legal status as an occupied territory.</p>
<p>PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to
the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under
Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all
circumstances and their obligations.</p>
<p>PCHR believes that the international community’s silence conspiracy
encourages Israel to commit more violations of international human
rights law and international humanitarian law, including creating a
Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.</p>
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