OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC)– Large Israeli forces stormed on Tuesday morning al-Aqsa Mosque and heavily fired stun grenades and rubber bullets at Palestinian worshipers who confronted and stoned the invading forces. More than 20 injuries were reported.
Violent clashes took place in the Mosque last night when Israeli police tried to force out Palestinian worshipers. However the worshipers managed to remain inside the Mosque until the morning hours.
As a result Israeli forces imposed this morning tight restrictions on the worshipers’ access to the Mosque courtyards preventing worshipers under the age of 50 years from entering. Hundreds of students have been prevented from attending their courses in al-Aqsa Mosque.
Occupation forces were heavily deployed at the Mosque’s gates and prevented the entry of Palestinian youths who in turn threw stones at the soldiers.
Three Palestinian youths were arrested while trying to enter the Mosque’s courtyards.
The clashes came few hours before Israeli Knesset’s session to discuss strengthening Israeli control over al-Aqsa Mosque.
Meanwhile al-Aqsa Foundation for Human Rights warned that Israeli Knesset plans to discuss ways to strengthen Israeli control over al-Aqsa Mosque during the next two days amid Jewish rabbis’ wide support and participation.
Knesset’s Committee for the Interior and Environment headed by Likud MK Miri Regev is scheduled to discuss next Wednesday preparations for mass settler raid on al-Aqsa Mosque to mark the Jewish holiday of Passover.
The Foundation stressed in its statement the importance of intensifying Palestinian presence in al-Aqsa Mosque calling on Palestinians in Jerusalem and inside the Green Line to defend and protect the holy mosque in face Israeli Judaization schemes.
Jewish extremist activists have launched a campaign on social media networks calling for breaking into al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday and raising Israeli flags in its courtyards.
The Foundation said that Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque especially by Israeli MKs ministers and political and religious figures came as part of Israeli scheme to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque temporally and spatially as a prelude to establishing the alleged Temple.
