2023 Al-Aqsa clashes

Last updated

2023 Al-Aqsa clashes
Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Temple Mount (Aerial view, 2007) 05.jpg
The Temple Mount, also known as the Al-Aqsa compound, where the clashes occurred
Date5 April 2023
(1 years ago)
Location
Parties
  • Flag of Palestine.svg Palestinians
Casualties and losses
  • 1 police officer injured [1]
  • 50 injured [1]
At least 400 Palestinians arrested [2]

A series of violent confrontations occurred between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem in April 2023. After the evening Ramadan prayer, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the mosque, prompted by reports that Jews planned to sacrifice a goat at the site (which is forbidden by Israeli law). In response, Israeli police raided the mosque in riot gear, injuring 50 people [1] and arresting at least 400. [3]

Contents

In the aftermath of the clashes, Palestinian militant groups [4] fired rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon – acts broadly construed as a response to the events at Al-Aqsa. [5]

Background

The clashes occurred during a period of increased Israeli–Palestinian tensions due to the convergence of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Jewish holiday of Passover, and the Christian Holy Week. [6]

Since the beginning of Ramadan on 22 March, Muslim worshippers had attempted to stay overnight in the Al-Aqsa mosque, a practice usually permitted only in the last 10 days of the holiday (11–21 April). Israel Police had entered the mosque to evict worshippers nightly over Ramadan. [4]

On 3 April, Israel Police detained a Jewish activist with the Temple Mount Administration in an attempt to head off attempts by Jewish groups to contravene the ban on Jewish prayer in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and perform a ritual sacrifice for Passover, which would begin the evening of 4 April. [7] The same day, the National Security Minister Ben-Gvir advocated for Jewish groups to go to Temple Mount during Passover, but refrain from ritual sacrifice. [8] According to the status quo, Jews are allowed to visit the Temple Mount site but not pray there. [9]

Incident

The confrontations began on the night of 4 April, when a few hundred Palestinians barricaded themselves in the Al-Aqsa mosque after Ramadan prayers amid concern that Jews might head to the Temple Mount to perform a ritual sacrifice, despite its prohibition. [10] In response, Israeli police raided the mosque in riot gear. According to Palestinians, police threw stun grenades, fired rubber bullets, and beat Palestinians on the floor with batons, injuring at least 50 people and arresting 400. According to the Israeli police, Palestinians threw stones and launched fireworks at police. A video released by Israeli police showed that fireworks were used inside the mosque. One police officer was injured. [10] [1] The events heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and have drawn international attention to the ongoing conflict in the region. [5]

The next night, Palestinian worshippers barricaded themselves in the mosque again and were forcibly removed by Israeli police. [4]

Reactions

The Times of Israel reported a senior Israeli official's assessment that police "went too far" in their treatment of the Palestinians, that it lent weight to the al-Aqsa is in danger rallying cry, encouraged Israel’s enemies, and damaged Israel's reputation. The official called for a review of the officers' conduct, as they had been ordered to act with restraint. However, he stated that the police were compelled to enter the mosque after receiving intelligence that numerous Palestinians had stored weapons there with the intention to attack security personnel and Israeli civilians. Another Israeli security official blamed the Jordan-appointed Jerusalem Waqf for not doing enough against Palestinian rioters. [11] The Palestinian Authority and Hamas condemned the Israeli police action, which they described as a crime. Israeli authorities defended their actions as necessary to maintain public order and safety. [12]

Furthermore, the actions of the Israeli Police have been condemned by the ministries of foreign affairs of Qatar, [18] Turkey, [19] Jordan, [20] Saudi Arabia, [21] Bahrain, [22] Iran, [23] Morocco, [24] Algeria, [25] Pakistan, [26] Afghanistan, [27] Bangladesh [28] and Malaysia. [29]

Aftermath

Following the incident, Palestinian militant groups warned of further confrontation. [4] The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that nine rockets were fired from Gaza Strip toward Israel. [5]

On 6 April, the IDF stated that some rockets were fired from Lebanon. [30] The rockets were reportedly fired by Palestinian factions. [4] [30] There was no immediate comment from Lebanon's army. [30] In a written statement, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) described the situation as "extremely serious" and urged restraint. It said UNIFIL chief Aroldo Lazaro was in contact with authorities on both sides. [31]

On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major surprise attack on Israel with rocket barrage and an incursion. The commander of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, claimed the attack was conducted in response to "desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque". [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Mount</span> Religious site in Jerusalem

The Temple Mount, also known as The Noble Sanctuary, al-Aqsa Mosque compound, or simply al-Aqsa, and sometimes as Jerusalem's holyesplanade, is a hill in the Old City of Jerusalem that has been venerated as a holy site for thousands of years, including in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Aqsa Mosque</span> Main Islamic prayer hall at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem

The Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Qibli Mosque or Qibli Chapel, is the main congregational mosque or prayer hall in the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. In some sources the building is also named al-Masjid al-Aqṣā, but this name primarily applies to the whole compound in which the building sits, which is itself also known as "Al-Aqsa Mosque". The wider compound is known as Al-Aqsa or Al-Aqsa mosque compound, also known as al-Ḥaram al-Sharīf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Excavations at the Temple Mount</span> Archaeology of a Jerusalem holy site

A number of archaeological excavations at the Temple Mount—a celebrated and contentious religious site in the Old City of Jerusalem—have taken place over the last 150 years. Excavations in the area represent one of the more sensitive areas of all archaeological excavations in Jerusalem.

In 2009, clashes between Muslim Palestinians and Israeli police erupted on September 27, 2009, and continued to late October. Violence spread through East Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank, and included throwing of Molotov cocktails and stones at Israeli security forces and civilians. Israeli police responded with arrests of rioters and sporadic age-based restriction of access to the Temple Mount. Several dozen rioters, police and Israeli civilians have been injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–Palestine relations</span> Bilateral relations between Malaysia and the State of Palestine

Malaysia–Palestine relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Malaysia and Palestine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Jerusalem synagogue attack</span> Terrorist attack in Israel

On the morning of 18 November 2014, two Palestinian men from Jerusalem entered Kehilat Bnei Torah synagogue, in the Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem, and attacked the praying congregants with axes, knives, and a gun. They killed four dual-nationality worshippers, and critically wounded a responding Druze Israeli police officer, who later died of his wounds. They also injured seven male worshippers, one of whom never woke up from a coma and died 11 months later. The two attackers were then shot dead by the police.

On 14 July 2017, three Arab-Israeli men left the Temple Mount, and opened fire on Israeli border police officers stationed near the Gate of the Tribes which is close to the Lions' Gate. Two Israeli border police officers were killed and two more were injured in the attack. All three attackers were shot and killed by Israeli police after fleeing back into the complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Temple Mount crisis</span>

The 2017 Temple Mount crisis was a period of violent tensions related to the Temple Mount, which began on 14 July 2017, after a shooting incident in the complex in which Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli police officers. Following the attack, Israeli authorities installed metal detectors at the entrance to the Mount in a step that caused large Palestinian protests and was severely criticized by Palestinian leaders, the Arab League, and other Muslim leaders, on the basis that it constituted a change in the "status quo" of the Temple Mount entry restrictions.

The following is a timeline of events during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2019. A total of 137 Palestinians were killed, 135 by Israeli forces and two by Israeli settlers. 28 children were killed, 26 boys and two girls. 33 civilians were killed as part of the Great March of Return demonstrations. Ten Israelis were killed by Palestinians and at least 120 were injured.

Events in the year 2021 in Palestine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Israel–Palestine crisis</span> Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

The 2021 Gaza War, sometimes called the Unity Intifada, was a major outbreak of violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict that mainly commenced on 10 May 2021, and continued until a ceasefire came into effect on 21 May. It was marked by protests and police riot control, rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The crisis was triggered on 6 May, when Palestinians in East Jerusalem began protesting over an anticipated decision of the Supreme Court of Israel on the eviction of six Palestinian families in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Under international law, the area, effectively annexed by Israel in 1980, is a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank; On 7 May, according to Israel's Channel 12, Palestinians threw stones at Israeli police forces, who then stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound using tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades. The crisis prompted protests around the world as well as official reactions from world leaders.

The following is a timeline of events during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2021, including the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.

The following is a list of events during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Al-Aqsa clashes</span> Part of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

On 15 April 2022, clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli Security Forces on the Al-Aqsa compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. According to the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the clashes began when Palestinians threw stones, firecrackers, and other heavy objects at Israeli police officers. The policemen used tear gas shells, stun grenades and police batons against the Palestinians. Some Palestinians afterwards barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and proceeded to throw stones at the officers. In response, police raided the mosque, arresting those who had barricaded themselves inside. In addition, some damage was done to the mosque's structure.

Events in the year 2022 in Palestine.

The following is a list of events during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2023, including the 2023 events of the Israel–Hamas war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Israel–Lebanon shellings</span> Cross-border clashes in April 2023

On 6 April 2023, dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, wounding 3 Israeli civilians. The Israel government alleged that the rockets were fired by Palestinian factions Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with Hezbollah's approval.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">April 2023 Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel</span>

Following clashes at Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, many rockets were fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip, Southern Lebanon, and Syria by Palestinian militants. This led to the bombing of these areas by the IDF.

On 7 April 2023, in an attack attributed to and claimed by the Al-Qassam Brigades, an Israeli vehicle was shot at near the Hamra junction, killing two women and critically injuring another, who later also died. The casualties were three members of the British–Israeli Dee family from the Israeli settlement of Efrat in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Al-Aqsa has been the site of frequent clashes between Palestinian Arab visitors and both Israeli security forces and Israeli groups, beginning with the 1990 Temple Mount killings, or Al-Aqsa Massacre, and most recently culminating in the 2023 Al-Aqsa clashes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Al-Aqsa mosque: Violence as Israeli police raid Jerusalem holy site". BBC News. 2023-04-05. Archived from the original on 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  2. Busari, Biodun (April 5, 2023). "Israeli police raid, arrest Palestinian worshippers in Al-Aqsa mosque". Vanguard . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  3. Busari, Biodun (April 5, 2023). "Israeli police raid, arrest Palestinian worshippers in Al-Aqsa mosque". Vanguard . Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Debre, Isabel (2023-04-05). "Violence erupts at Jerusalem holy site for a 2nd night". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Salma, Abeer; Tawfeeq, Mohammed; Hauser, Jennifer (April 5, 2023). "Israeli police storm al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan prayers, sparking rocket fire from Gaza". CNN. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. Gritten, David; Lukov, Yaroslav (April 5, 2023). "Jerusalem: Clashes erupt at al-Aqsa mosque". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  7. Williams, Dan (April 3, 2023). "Israel detains Passover sacrifice campaigner as Al Aqsa tensions simmer". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-07 via www.reuters.com.
  8. Obel, Ash (3 April 2023). "Police minister: Jews must go to Temple Mount on Passover — but no animal sacrifice". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  9. ToI Staff (9 April 2023). "Hundreds of Jews tour tense Temple Mt.; Jordan warns against violations of status quo". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Ramadan and Passover raise tensions at Jerusalem holy site". BBC News. 2023-04-05. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  11. "Top Israeli official admits police overreacted in beating Palestinians inside al-Aqsa". The Times of Israel. 9 April 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  12. "Israeli forces storm Al-Aqsa, attack worshippers during Ramadan". Al Jazeera. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  13. "EU 'deeply concerned' by violence at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque". www.aa.com.tr. Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  14. "Kılıçdaroğlu'ndan tepki: Mescid-i Aksa'daki saldırıyı şiddetle lanetliyorum". www.cumhuriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  15. Raycraft, Richard. "Trudeau calls for peace following Israeli raid of mosque". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  16. "UAE condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli police". www.mofaic.gov.ae. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  17. "Oman denounces occupation forces' storming of Al Aqsa Mosque". Foreign Ministry of Oman. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  18. "Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation forces storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking worshippers". www.mofa.gov.qa. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  19. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs (5 April 2023). "Press Release Regarding the Attacks and Provocations On Al-Aqsa Mosque". Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  20. "الأردن يحذر من استمرار اعتداءات شرطة الاحتلال الإسرائيلي على المصلين". mfa.gov.jo. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  21. "توضح وزارة الخارجية أن المملكة العربية السعودية تتابع بقلقٍ بالغ اقتحام قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي لباحات المسجد الأقصى الشريف، والاعتداء على المصلين، واعتقالها عددٍ من المواطنين الفلسطينيين". www.mofa.gov.sa. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  22. "Bahrain condemns Israeli police raiding Al-Aqsa Mosque". www.mofa.gov.bh. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  23. "Tweet of the Foreign Ministry spokesman". en.mfa.gov.ir. Retrieved 2023-04-08.[ permanent dead link ]
  24. "Statement". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  25. "Algeria condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli occupation authority". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  26. "Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque – Ministry of Foreign Affairs". 27 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  27. "د ااا د بهرنیو چارو وزارت په الاقصی جومات کي په بې دفاع لمونځ کوونکو د اسرائیلي ځواکونو ظالمانه برید په کلکو ټکو غندي". mfa.gov.af. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  28. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Bangladesh. 6 Apr 2023. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 Apr 2023.
  29. "MALAYSIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE ATTACKS BY ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES ON WORSHIPPERS IN THE AL-AQSA MOSQUE". Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Malaysia. 6 Apr 2023. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 Apr 2023.
  30. 1 2 3 "Israel intercepts rocket fire from southern Lebanon". Al Jazeera . 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  31. "UNIFIL urges restraint after Israel intercepts rockets fired from southern Lebanon". Al Arabiya English. 2023-04-06. Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  32. חלבי, עינב (2023-10-07). "מוחמד דף על מתקפת הרקטות: ישראל חיללה את אל-אקצא, קורא לערביי ישראל להצטרף". Ynet (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.