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Tensions remain high in the occupied Palestinian territories

Israeli security forces stand in front of a group of Palestinians during a raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque. (April 15th 2022. (Reuters)

Ramadan is supposed to be a time of peace and reflection; however, in the occupied territories the Zionist regime does not hold this view.

With the desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and the exchange of rocket fire between Israel and resistance groups, there is no telling when the next incident will break out.

Israeli forces raided the al-Aqsa mosque where worshippers said they were attacked violently.

I was praying and I was sitting on a chair reciting the Quran. They hurled stun grenades; one of them hit my chest. Now my family will see me and they will feel terrible.

Palestinian eyewitness 01

Western media presented another version to the masses reporting that there were clashes inside the mosque.

In the attached video one can hear the muffled sound of Israeli forces batons beating on the flesh of Palestinian worshippers; worshippers who should be allowed to pray but are instead beaten.

They attacked us inside there. All the young people inside are suffering and no one is helping them. What are you waiting for? The attacked everyone inside, the windows of the mosque are all broken. God is great.

Palestinian eyewitness 02

Tensions remain high in occupied Palestine. So far this year, around 100 Palestinians have been killed. On Thursday there were rocket attacks from the resistance forces in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

Israel retaliated against both territories, Interestingly, blaming Hamas for both and not Hezbollah who have always stood ready  to defend the rights of the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, a car ramming attack occurred in Tel Aviv happening hours after two Israeli settlers were killed in a shooting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains defiant

Recently I have made it clear that our enemies should not misjudge us, the internal debate in Israel will not prevent us from taking action against them wherever, and whenever, necessary.

All of us, without exception, are united on this.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister

Broad condemnations and protests have followed with Hamas slamming the Israeli violence.

Today all the Palestinian people are protesting in Gaza in response to Hamas’s call to protest and support the Murabitun and the worshipers in (the) Al-Aqsa compound and to condemn the heinous crime that the (Israeli) occupiers committed by attacking the worshipers in (the) al-Aqsa compound.

Hazem Qassem, Hamas Spokesperson

 The al-Aqsa mosque has long been a flashpoint between Palestinians and Israelis over matters of sovereignty and religion in Al Quds.

Under the long standing status quo arrangement, non Muslims can visit but only Muslims are allowed to worship in the mosque. Yet Israel has acted against this, especially when it comes to extreme settlers.

The most infamous provocative Israeli incident at the al-Aqsa mosque occurred on 20th of September 2000, when the Israeli opposition leader at the time, Ariel Sharon, entered the courtyard escorted by over 1000 Israeli police officers and declared it would forever remain under Israel's control.

That led to the Second Intifada, which resulted in the deaths of more than 3000 Palestinians and more than 1000 Israelis over a period of five years.

That sentiment is now carried by the extreme cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir. Israel's extremist minister entered the al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied al-Quds in January, a move Palestinians called 'a deliberate provocation'.

The most recent rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, which he blamed Hamas for.

Hamas rockets require more than blasting dunes and empty sites. It's time to rip heads off in Gaza. We must not deviate from an equation that necessitates a serious response for each and every rocket.

Itamar Ben-Gvir

Ben-Gvir has been convicted for racist incitement against Arabs and support for terrorism. He has also expressed support for Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli American who killed 29 Palestinians at the Ibrahimi mosque in 1994.

His wife Ayala Ben-Gvir, has encouraged every Israeli citizen who can hold a weapon to hold it to save his life. That's code for killing Palestinians.

The Palestinians, on the other hand, have intensified the resistance with groups in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank becoming more united; that resistance is the only way to confront the Israeli regime.


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