Over 200 injured in clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police in Jerusalem

At least 200 people were injured on Friday in clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters on the Jerusalem Mosques Esplanade (Temple Mount), in the middle of Ramadan.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that 205 Palestinians were injured overnight, while Israeli police said 17 Han officers were also seriously injured.

The holy city lives days of Tension due to repeated protests by Palestinians for a week to protest against plans to evict Palestinian families from Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood, for the benefit of Israeli families.

In addition, the Police killed two Palestinians and seriously injured a third, after opening fire on a military checkpoint in the northern West Bank.

In view of the escalation of incidents in these territories occupied by Israel, The United States called for “de-escalation of tensions” and to avoid unilateral measures, such as “evictions, settlements and demolitions”.

“We are deeply concerned”State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter said.

Incidents on the Esplanade

The Esplanade des Mosques is the third holiest site in Islam and is located just above the Western Wall, the most important place of prayer for Jews.

Although tension is common part of the Old City of Jerusalem, violence does not occur inside the Esplanade, which is usually monitored remotely by the Israeli police.

But this Friday is the last of the fasting month of Ramadan, and for this reason a large crowd of Muslims gathered on the esplanade. According to the Israeli police, “Hundreds of people threw stones, bottles and other objects at the officers, who responded.”

Demonstrations against the possibility of four Palestinian families being evicted from their homes in the Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood take place daily at nightfall. Fifteen Palestinians were arrested in the early hours of Friday.

A few hours later, around 100 Palestinians again took to the streets in Sheikh Jarrah.

The dispute is over ownership of the land on which several houses have been built where these four Palestinian families live. The Jerusalem District Court ruled earlier this year in favor of Israeli families claiming ownership of the land.

According to Israeli law, whether Israeli families can prove that their family lived in East Jerusalem before the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, they can demand that their “property rights” be restored to them, legislation the Palestinians categorically reject.

Shooting against soldiers

During the incident in the northern West Bank, “Three terrorists fired at the border guard base in Salem”, a Palestinian town near the city of Jeninpolice said in a statement. Security forces responded by using their guns, the source said. Two of the three attackers died, according to medical sources. The third was admitted to an Israeli hospital in “critical condition,” police said.

The The identity of the attackers has not been disclosed either by the Israeli authorities or by the Palestinian Ministry of Health., who confirmed the deaths of two “citizens”.

In addition, the On Wednesday, a young Israeli died who had been shot and wounded by a Palestinian days earlier in the West Bank.

On the same day, a A 16-year-old Palestinian teenager was killed by Israeli army gunfire, Palestinian sources said.

Friday’s attack also coincided with “Al Quds Day (Jerusalem in Arabic)” held annually in countries of the region and mainly in Iran, Israel’s nemesis, in support of the Palestinian people.

With information from AFP

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