Dozens injured in fresh raid by Israeli forces on al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli military forces have raided the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds as worshipers gathered for dawn prayers, with medics reporting that more than forty Palestinians were injured as a result of the Israeli violence.

Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israeli troops entered in force before dawn on Friday, as thousands of worshipers gathered at the mosque for early morning prayers.

The sources added that Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and stun grenades as worshipers barricaded themselves inside the mosque amid what appeared to be clouds of tear gas.

Palestinian media said at least 43 Palestinians were injured in the raid.

Iran FM: Zionists’ crimes at al-Aqsa Mosque continue on daily basis

Iran’s FM condemns Israel

The development comes a day after as many as 30 Palestinians were wounded after Israeli forces continued their violent attacks against worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied al-Quds.

The forces attacked the Palestinian worshipers, who had gathered for dawn prayers at the compound on Thursday.

“One person was transferred to hospital with a rubber bullet [wound] to his back,” medical sources were quoted as saying.

The troops used rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, stun grenades, and pepper spray against the worshipers, who have been braving increasing aggression ordered by the Israeli regime since the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Palestinians returned the violence by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.

In their most serious bout of aggression against the Palestinians during Ramadan, Israeli forces injured more than 150 worshipers at the compound last Saturday.

Palestinian man shot in Jenin succumbs to wounds

Meanwhile, a young Palestinian man has succumbed to wounds he suffered days earlier after dozens of Israeli military forces engaged in confrontations with a group of Palestinian demonstrators in the northern part of the occupied West Bank and fired live rounds to suppress the protest.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa, citing medical sources, reported that 20-year-old Lutfi Ibrahim Labadi, a resident of the town of al-Yamun, died of his serious injuries early on Friday.

Local sources, who asked not to be named, said Israeli troops shot the young man with live rounds last week during skirmishes that erupted when the forces stormed the city of Jenin and opened fire on hundreds of people protesting against the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of al-Quds and violent attacks on worshipers.

Islamic Jihad: Israel only understands language of force

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement says his group has learned how to deal with the Israeli regime, which only understands the language of force.

“Resistance groups, while increasing their readiness, are following up on the developments in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds and will not remain indifferent to the crimes of the occupiers,” Tariq Salmi said.

Salmi added, “Palestinian resistance forces are constantly improving their military capabilities as they are determined to thwart the objectives and policies of the Zionist regime.”

“Israeli occupation is the red line to the Palestinian people. Muslim nations and resistance groups will fight on until the menace is completely eradicated, and Palestinians’ historical rights are restored,” he said.

“The enemy’s threats will not stop [Palestinian] resistance groups from treading the path of struggle and martyrdom as they confront the policies of the occupiers. Such threats are a sign of the helplessness of the Zionist regime in the face of the Palestinian nation,” the spokesman added.

Israeli violations at al-Aqsa threaten regional, global peace, says Arab League

The Arab League says constant Israeli violations at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque compound threaten regional and global security.

Hamas: World must abandon double standards towards Palestine

Additionally, a senior member of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has called on the international community to dispose of its double standards vis-à-vis the Palestinian issue.

Zaher Jabarin, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, stressed that the Palestinian nation has the right to resist and stiffen resistance for the sake of its sanctities.

Syrian FM: US, West conspiring to liquidate Palestinian issue

The Syrian foreign minister also said the United States and its Western allies are conspiring to eliminate the issue of Palestine and divest Palestinians of their inalienable rights, especially the right of return for refugees.

Faisal Mekdad made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, in Damascus on Thursday.

Mekdad underlined that Syria remains committed to supporting the Palestinian people, especially the refugees, in order to alleviate their suffering amid the great pressure being exerted by Israel and its Western backers, particularly the US.

“Western states are fiercely plotting to liquidate the Palestinian issue and strip Palestinians of their inalienable rights, especially the right of return,” he said, noting that Damascus is following up on the latest developments in the occupied city of al-Quds with great concern.

“The developments are the upshot of heinous crimes and a blatantly organized aggression, which the Israeli [regime] has been committing against worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan,” Mekdad said.

The top Syrian diplomat said these crimes “are being carried out amid the generous US support and embarrassing silence of the international community.”

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