Hundreds of settlers storm Al-Aqsa - 18 detainees - 20 injuries
On Sunday, the 16th of Ramadan, the occupation authorities turned Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings into a military barracks, and prevented entry to Al-Aqsa from morning hours until noon, while allowing hundreds of settlers to storm it.
“Attacks…Arrests…Beating…Evacuation...Besieging…Closure.” This was the scene in Al-Aqsa and its surroundings from dawn until noon.
The Department of Islamic Endowments said that 545 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa, through the Dung Gate.
The director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani, said that the incursions were carried out in the form of “14 groups” that stormed the mosque through the Dung Gate - whose keys have been controlled by the occupation authorities since the occupation of Jerusalem. The settlers’ incursions were preceded by attacks and pushing and using batons on worshipers present in Al-Aqsa and emptying the squares, after the dawn prayer, before seven in the morning, as well as besieging hundreds inside the Al-Qibli prayer hall and throwing rubber bullets at them through the upper windows, after the forces ascended the roofs of Al-Qibli Mosque.”
Al-Kiswani added that the forces only opened the gates of "Hutta, Al-Majles, and Al-Silsileh", while they kept the rest of the gates closed, and prevented entry to Al-Aqsa during the settlers' incursions.
The forces also cut some of the speaker wires, to prevent young men from using them.
In Bab Hutta neighborhood, clashes erupted during the settlers' incursions, and the forces threw rubber bullets and sound grenades.
At the Gates of Hutta and al-Silsileh, the takbeer“God is Great” was raised by the worshipers after they were prevented from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the forces assaulted them several times to keep them away from the place.
The Red Crescent explained that it dealt with 20 injuries during the confrontations in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa, and transferred 5 injuries to the hospital, pointing out that one of the injuries was treated while she was under arrest.
The Red Crescent stated that the forces did not allow their crews to enter Al-Aqsa.
The police said that they arrested 18 young men from Jerusalem, on suspicion of "throwing stones and fireworks and assaulting settlers."