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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-terrorizes-ramadan-worshippers-al-aqsa-mosque">electronicintifada.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israel terrorizes Ramadan worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque</h1>
<p class="gmail-node__submitted">
<span class="gmail-field gmail-field-author"><a href="https://electronicintifada.net/people/maureen-clare-murphy">Maureen Clare Murphy</a></span> -
<span class="gmail-field gmail-field-publication-date"><span class="gmail-date-display-single">15 April 2022</span></span> </p>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><div>
<span><img src="https://electronicintifada.net/sites/default/files/styles/original_800w/public/2022-04/zumaglobaleleven739491.jpg?itok=UnViLT8n×tamp=1650052310" alt="" title="" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 25px;" width="420" height="280"></span><p>Palestinians worship outside the Dome of the Rock at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City on 15 April.</p><small>
<span>ZUMA Press</span></small><p>Israeli
occupation forces attacked Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, wounding more
than 150 Palestinians while it was filled with Ramadan worshippers on
one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar.</p>
<p>Six people sustained serious injuries during the hours-long assault
on one of the world’s most significant religious sites early Friday, <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/">according to</a> the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), and more than 400 were arrested.</p>
<p>The rights group said that the violence began after thousands of
worshippers observed dawn prayers amid a “heavy” presence of Israeli
occupation forces in the area, including on the rooftops of gates to the
mosque compound.</p>
<p>After the dawn prayer, Palestinians placed wooden barriers around the
al-Aqsa mosque prayer hall in anticipation of an Israeli raid, PCHR
said, and fired firecrackers towards one of the gates where Israeli
forces were stationed.</p>
<p>“Immediately, Israeli occupation forces raided the entire mosque with
hundreds of troops” and fired live bullets, tear gas and stun grenades,
PCHR added.</p>
<p>Video from inside the mosque shows sound grenades exploding inside the prayer hall and Israeli forces deploying inside:
</p><div id="gmail-file-118561">
<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">تغطية صحفية :"
بالروح بالدم نفديك يا أقصى.. هتافات الشبان الفلسطينيين في المصلى القبلي
بالمسجد الأقصى بعد اقتحامه من قبل الاحتلال" <a href="https://t.co/uICPoL0APS">pic.twitter.com/uICPoL0APS</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514807910534066188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<div id="gmail-file-118566">
<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">تغطية صحفية: "فيديو يوثق اعتداء قوات الاحتلال وتنكيلها بالمصلين بالمصلى القبلي في <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AC%D8%AF_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#المسجد_الأقصى</a> المبارك"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89_%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#اقتحام_الاقصى_برمضان</a> <a href="https://t.co/dPf9UPcn7g">pic.twitter.com/dPf9UPcn7g</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514854347464757252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I long for the day when <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlAqsaUnderAttack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlAqsaUnderAttack</a> isn’t trending on Twitter. <a href="https://t.co/nvn20TxlYg">pic.twitter.com/nvn20TxlYg</a></p>— Bint (@PalBint) <a href="https://twitter.com/PalBint/status/1514988256051568647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Israeli forces closed off entry to the compound, preventing access to
paramedics, and attacked mosque guards, health workers and media
personnel.
<p>Al Jazeera <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/15/israeli-forces-raid-al-aqsa-mosque-over-50-palestinians-injured">reported</a> that one of the guards was shot in the eye with a rubber-coated bullet.</p>
<p>PCHR said that Israeli forces, including snipers, occupied the roof
of the al-Aqsa mosque prayer hall and shattered windows so they could
fire live and rubber-coated bullets and tear gas into the house of
worship.</p>
<p>Video shows the upper stained glass windows of the mosque’s prayer hall being broken from outside:
</p><div id="gmail-file-118576">
<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">تغطية صحفية: "قوات الاحتلال تحطم زجاج نوافذ المصلى القبلي وتواصل حصار المعتكفين داخله". <a href="https://t.co/0aXA2eRAVy">pic.twitter.com/0aXA2eRAVy</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514843851772547074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Israeli forces inside the mosque forced worshippers to lay down and
“arrested hundreds,” PCHR added, before ordering those remaining to
evacuate.
<p>Video shows worshippers lying on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs:
</p><div id="gmail-file-118581">
<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">مصادر صحفية: "قوات الاحتلال تنفذ حملة اعتقالات في صفوف المرابطين بالمصلى القلبي في <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AC%D8%AF_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#المسجد_الأقصى</a>".<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89_%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#اقتحام_الاقصى_برمضان</a> <a href="https://t.co/PgZieSnkHJ">pic.twitter.com/PgZieSnkHJ</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514853071481974787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Children were among those arrested:
<div id="gmail-file-118586">
<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">متابعة| قوات الاحتلال المدججة بالأسلحة تعتقل طفلاً فلسطينياً خلال اقتحام المسجد الأقصى. <a href="https://t.co/rhlSyCCTDu">pic.twitter.com/rhlSyCCTDu</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514810155434618880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Worshippers were beaten by Israeli police while evacuating:
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<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">أمام عدسات الكاميرات ..قوات الاحتـــلال تعتدي بالهراوات على الطواقم الصحفية والطبية في المسجد الأقصى <a href="https://t.co/VfNB4WlBB2">pic.twitter.com/VfNB4WlBB2</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514809468239843341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Three paramedics were injured during the assault, including one who was struck by a rubber-coated bullet in the neck.
<p>Three journalists were injured, including photojournalist Rami Khatib, who was beaten by Israeli forces wielding batons.
</p><div id="gmail-file-118601">
<blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Al-Qastal Network
reporter, Nasreen Salem, was shot in the head with a rubber bullet while
covering the events in Al-Aqsa Mosque <a href="https://t.co/Y8vQbdCQeo">pic.twitter.com/Y8vQbdCQeo</a></p>— AlQastal News (@QastalNewsEn) <a href="https://twitter.com/QastalNewsEn/status/1514848790829989889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The assault on Khatib was recorded on video:
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<blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">I can't wait to hear the Zionists spin on this. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israeli</a> occupation forces brutally assaulting a journalist. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AlAqsaUnderAttack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AlAqsaUnderAttack</a> <a href="https://t.co/KoN1EwckX2">pic.twitter.com/KoN1EwckX2</a></p>— Abier (@abierkhatib) <a href="https://twitter.com/abierkhatib/status/1514826810126704640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Khatib said that his arm, as well as his camera, were broken in the attack:
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<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">المصور الصحفي رامي الخطيب: "القوات الخاصة اعتدت عليَّ بالضرب المبرح وقاموا بكسر ذراعي والكاميرا الخاصة بي".<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#اقتحام_رمضان</a> <a href="https://t.co/3PvFBG401i">pic.twitter.com/3PvFBG401i</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514878299058622469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Israel’s foreign ministry attempted to spin the police raid on al-Aqsa
as an effort to protect freedom of worship from “violent rioters
desecrating the site and endangering the public,” though scores of
videos show the opposite was the case.
<div id="gmail-file-118626">
<blockquote><div dir="ltr" lang="en"><p>Israeli police entered Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to disperse violent rioters desecrating the site and endangering the public.</p><p>The mosque has now reopened for prayers. Israel continues to ensure freedom of worship in Jerusalem.<a href="https://t.co/Pur8bae36n">pic.twitter.com/Pur8bae36n</a></p></div>— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraelMFA/status/1514877737151995906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Francesca Albanese, the newly appointed UN special rapporteur on human
rights in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, stated on Friday that
“places of worship, as an extension of freedom of religion, must be
protected, especially on holy days.”
<div id="gmail-file-118631">
<blockquote><div dir="ltr" lang="en"><p>Places of worship, as an extension of freedom of religion, must be protected, especially on holy days</p><p>Intentionally
attacking civilians not taking direct part in hostilities, as well as
civilian objects that are not military objectives constitute war crimes
under the ICC Statute <a href="https://t.co/u6Xbavc2j0">pic.twitter.com/u6Xbavc2j0</a></p></div>— Francesca Albanese (@FranceskAlbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/FranceskAlbs/status/1514905425925361666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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She added that intentional attacks on civilians constitute war crimes
under the Rome Statute founding the International Criminal Court.
<p>That body opened up an investigation into war crimes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip last year.</p>
<p>Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the imam of al-Aqsa, <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-jerusalem-aqsa-mosque-storm-attack-worshipper">called</a>
the Israeli siege “a premeditated and orchestrated attack” that aimed
to accommodate a raid on the holy site by Israeli extremists during the
Passover holiday that begins Friday evening.</p>
<p>Earlier in the week, an extremist Israeli group that seeks the
destruction of the mosque and its replacement with a Jewish temple
offered a cash prize for any attempted animal sacrifices at the al-Aqsa
compound during Passover.</p>
<p>On Thursday, Israel <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-extremist-jews-arrested-for-planning-animal-sacrifice-atop-temple-mount/">arrested six people</a> on suspicion that they intended to perform such a ritual at the holy site.</p>
<p>Following the siege on al-Aqsa, the director of the mosque, Sheikh
Omar al-Kiswani, called on worshippers to gather at the holy site “to
perform Friday prayers and defend it”:
</p><div id="gmail-file-118616">
<blockquote><p dir="rtl" lang="ar">مدير المسجد الأقصى الشيخ عمر الكسواني: "ندعو لشد الرحال للمسجد الأقصى من أجل أداء صلاة الجمعة فيه والدفاع عنه".<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#اقتحام_رمضان</a> <a href="https://t.co/24ycH0aSdl">pic.twitter.com/24ycH0aSdl</a></p>— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) <a href="https://twitter.com/qudsn/status/1514877914227040259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political office, <a href="https://alqassam.ps/arabic/news/details/17478">said</a> on Friday that Palestinians and Muslims would defend and protect al-Aqsa “at any price.”
<p>A similar Israeli assault on the holy site during Ramadan last year
sparked a military confrontation between resistance factions in Gaza,
led by Hamas, and Israel.</p>
<p>More than 250 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 67 children, were <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/palestine-pictures-may-2021/33316">killed</a>
during the 11 days of intense violence that followed. Palestinian armed
groups meanwhile fired thousands of rockets from Gaza during the
fighting, killing around a dozen people in Israel.</p>
<p>On Friday, Palestinians in Gaza <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/15/gaza-protests-against-israeli-violations-against-al-aqsa-mosque">protested</a>
the Israeli attack on al-Aqsa earlier that day and deadly repression
throughout the West Bank in recent weeks. Some called on Palestinian
resistance factions to respond to the occupation violence.</p>
<p>Palestinians in Gaza reportedly headed to shops to stock up on
essentials in anticipation of a possible major Israeli attack on the
besieged territory.
</p><div id="gmail-file-118621">
<blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">My family WhatsApp
group is suddenly about possible Israeli full-scale aggression. People
in Gaza are heading to shops to buy essentials. Meetings are canceled
from diaries. Constant trauma. Every single Ramadan, Israel's violence
intensifies.</p>— Malaka (@MalakaShwaikh) <a href="https://twitter.com/MalakaShwaikh/status/1514928831731220483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Tens of thousands of worshippers reportedly prayed at al-Aqsa without major incident on Friday afternoon.
<p>Israel imposed a lockdown on Palestinian movement from the West Bank
and Gaza Strip at the outset of Passover, as is typical during major
Israeli holidays.</p>
<h2>Israel kills teen near Jenin</h2>
<p>Also on Friday, a Palestinian child <a href="https://www.dci-palestine.org/17_year_old_palestinian_boy_succumbs_to_injuries_after_israeli_shooting">died from injuries</a> sustained the previous day during an arrest raid in Kafr Dan village near the northern West Bank city of Jenin.</p>
<p>Shawkat Kamal Shawkat Abed, 17, was shot in the stomach while
Palestinian youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers withdrawing from the
area.
</p><div id="gmail-file-118636">
<blockquote><div dir="ltr" lang="en"><p>Israeli forces
shot 17-year-old Shawkat Kamal Shawkat Abed in the abdomen yesterday
morning around 8:15 a.m. in Kfar Dan, a village northwest of Jenin in
the northern occupied West Bank. </p><p>Shawkat succumbed to his injuries today. <a href="https://t.co/ufLoc4izCU">pic.twitter.com/ufLoc4izCU</a></p></div>— Defense for Children (@DCIPalestine) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCIPalestine/status/1514945957376450569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“Suddenly and without warning, an Israeli soldier pointed his gun out
the rear window of the last vehicle in the convoy and began
indiscriminately shooting at protesters from a distance of approximately
25 meters,” striking the teen and 29-year-old Shas Kamamji, who <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/israel-steps-pace-west-bank-killings">died from his injuries</a> on Thursday.
<p>“Injuries suggest that Shawkat was struck with an exploding bullet
that ruptured his blood vessels and veins,” Defense for Children
International-Palestine stated.</p>
<p>“The use of expanding and exploding bullets is a violation of
international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime under the Rome
Statute of the International Criminal Court,” the rights group added.</p>
<p>“Shawkat is the eighth Palestinian child shot and killed by Israeli
forces in 2022 and the third Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces
this week,” DCIP said.</p>
<p>Eighteen Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank and Israel since the beginning of April.</p> <h3>
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