Al-Quds Explodes in Rage at Zionist Siege of Al-Aqsa

Date: 21 July 2017 - 22:02

News ID: ۴۱۹۵۹

OCCUPIED AL-QUDS (Dispatches) – At least four Palestinians were shot dead on Friday as thousands of Palestinian worshippers clashed with Israeli forces on a "day of rage" over the occupying regime’s siege of Islam's third holiest site.
Muhammad Sharaf, 17, was shot by an Israeli settler in the Ras Alamood area in East Jerusalem Al-Quds. Muhammad Hassan Abu Ghannam, 19, died of his wounds in Al-Makassad hospital after he was shot by a Zionist settler in East Al-Quds.
A 7-year-old boy, whose identity was not immediately known, died after inhaling poisonous gas used by Israeli forces to suppress a demonstration in Al-Ramm town northeast of Jerusalem Al-Quds.
Later on Friday afternoon, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said another Palestinian succumbed to his wounds at a hospital in Ramallah after having been shot in the chest by Israeli forces during a demonstration in Abu Dis.
The deaths came as thousands of Palestinians clashed with Zionist forces following peaceful prayers around the Old City. Those inside refused to enter the Noble Sanctuary and its Al-Aqsa mosque in protest at new Israeli security checkpoints at two key entrances.
The sanctuary has for a week been subjected to increased security measures, including metal detectors, that many in Palestine see as an attempt to gain control of the site.
Worshippers outside the Old City were scattered soon after Friday prayers as Zionist forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowds in Salah al-Din Street. Four Palestinians were reported injured.
Israeli forces also entered Al-Makassad hospital in Jerusalem Al-Quds, and asked employees to leave. Witnesses said they believed Zionist officers were looking for those wounded in the clashes.
Earlier the hospital released a statement asking for blood donations due to the number of injured.
The occupying regime’s violent attacks after prayers came on a day Palestinian leaders had promised a "day of rage" over Israel's moves to control access to the Noble Sanctuary.
Talks to remove metal detectors from the gated entrances collapsed overnight as Palestinian Authority negotiators refused to accept Israel's offer of subjecting only "suspicious people" to metal detection checks.
The Zionist regime had poured thousands of extra forces into the city. Troops were seen taking up positions above crowds of worshipers, armed with baton rounds and assault rifles.
Officials including the Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator, Hatem Abdel-Kader, were arrested shortly after the talks failed.
Speaking to Middle East Eye before his arrest, Abdel-Kader, said: "The Israeli offer to keep the metal detectors in place, but only require suspicious individuals to pass through them, was unreservedly rejected by the Palestinians.
"There will be an escalation tomorrow. Clashes will inevitably continue until freedom of religion is restored."
Clashes between Palestinians hurling stones and Zionist troops using stun grenades have been a daily occurrence in East Jerusalem Al-Quds since metal detectors were placed on Saturday at entrances to the Noble Sanctuary, which includes the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israel installed the metal detectors after three Palestinians and two Zionist troops were killed in a shooting outside the Noble Sanctuary complex on July 14 in one of the most serious incidents in the area in years.
Religious figures and Palestinian politicians called for resistance on Friday morning to what is widely seen across Palestine as an attempt by the occupying regime of Israel to control Al-Aqsa.
Abdala Athem Salhab, the head of the Waqf counsel which administers the Noble Sanctury site, said: "We are all united and it's our responsibility to protect the Aqsa Mosque - we won't step back. We are asking Jordan to intervene to remove the doors, otherwise Israel is leading the area to religious war."
Ahmed Tibi, a member of the Israeli parliament for the Arab List coalition, said it was the duty of Palestinians "to act now in order to protect the Aqsa from the Israeli forces. The Aqsa is not only a religion issue but also a political one."
"Our response to Netanyahu is that we say no to the detectors and we will continue the protest. We hope the Islamic world and the international community take action to stop the violations."
Muslim religious authorities say the metal detectors violate a delicate agreement on worship and security arrangements at the Jerusalem Al-Quds site and have urged Palestinians not to pass through. Prayers have been held near an entrance to the complex.
On Thursday night, Zionist forces wounded 22 Palestinians near Haram al-Sharif. According to the Red Crescent, two of those hurt are in serious condition after they were hit by a stun grenade.
Abdel-Kader said that the move to install metal detectors in the compound is a power play on Israel’s part.
"The metal detectors serve no security purpose whatsoever. Rather, their erection is a political play to pressure Palestinians into relinquishing control of Al-Aqsa," he told Middle East Eye.
The negotiator added that all of the mosques in Al-Quds were closed on Friday in an effort to "direct Palestinians toward Al-Aqsa", which drew thousands of people.
"With the religious and political sensitivities surrounding Al-Aqsa - as a universal sanctuary for Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims - Israel is taking a massive gamble and ultimately, crossing a red line. Undoubtedly, this may have dangerous consequences," Abdel-Kader said.
Extremist members of Netanyahu's hardline regime have publicly urged him to keep the devices in place at the flashpoint.
Still, Zionist media reports said security chiefs were divided over the issue amid concerns about wider Palestinian unrest in East Al-Quds and the West Bank.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin to swiftly remove the detectors "within the framework of freedom of religion and worship".
"Given the importance that Haram al-Sharif carries for the whole Islamic world, the metal detectors put in place by Israel should be removed in the shortest possible time and an end put to the tension," Erdogan said.