News / Palestine

Israeli forces clash with Palestinians at al-Aqsa compound

Sunday, 26 June 2016 8:58 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 26 June 2016 9:10 AM ]

An Israeli soldier fires tear gas during skirmishes with Palestinian worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds (Jerusalem), June 26, 2016.

Israeli settlers and forces have once again stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds (Jerusalem) and engaged in scuffles with Palestinian Muslim worshipers there.

On Sunday morning, a large number of illegal settlers, escorted by a group of Israeli soldiers, stormed the holy site.

They were met by strong opposition from the Palestinians, who were performing morning prayers there.

Israeli soldiers used teargas and fired rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse the protesters.

Several people are said to have sustained gunshot wounds during the clashes. At least four Palestinians were also arrested.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Center for Studies (PPCS) has announced that Israeli forces have arrested at least 330 Palestinians since the beginning of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on June 6.

Spokesman for the PPCS, Riyad al-Ashqar, said on Saturday that there are many women, children, senior citizens, people suffering from various illnesses and former prisoners among those arrested.

He added that more than 60 children, including a 10-year-old, have been detained since the start of Ramadan.

Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian man after Friday prayers at the entrance of the Damascus Gate, outside the occupied Old City of al-Quds (Jerusalem), February 19, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

There are also more than 21 women and girls among the detainees.

The occupied Palestinian territories have been the scene of heightened tensions since August 2015, when Israel imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds.

The al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site for Muslims after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.

Palestinians are angry at increasing violence by Israeli settlers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and their attacks on Palestinian property, saying the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the status quo of the sacred site.

Nearly 220 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since the beginning of last October.

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