The martyrdom of a youth at the doorsteps of Al-Aqsa Mosque
A Palestinian youth was martyred Friday evening after being shot by Israeli occupation forces at al-Silsila Gate, one of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Governorate announced the identity of the martyr as Mohammad Nidal Abu Libdeh, from the town of Beit Hanina in Jerusalem.
The Israeli occupation police said in a statement that the perpetrator "carried out a stabbing attack against one of its officers, moderately wounding him," adding that "the forces neutralized him and his death was later announced."
The police added that the perpetrator was a 17-year-old resident of Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem.
Video footage showed the boy left bleeding on the ground without receiving any medical treatment, while weapons were pointed at him despite his inability to move.
Witnesses who were in the vicinity of al-Silsila Gate—where the shooting occurred during the Ishaa prayer—reported that they heard a hail of gunfire. When they tried to approach the site, they were threatened with weapons and prevented from approaching, before the entire area was closed.
Immediately after the shooting, the occupation forces closed all the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented worshippers from leaving after the prayer. They then opened Hutta Gate about an hour later, allowing only those inside to exit.
During this time, the occupation forces assaulted Al-Aqsa Mosque guards and worshippers—including young men and the elderly—with beatings, threatened them with batons, and chased them to prevent them from standing or being present in the area.
The forces also took up positions at the gates of the Old City, preventing entry or exit.
In the evening, large forces stormed the town of Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem.
The occupation forces, accompanied by intelligence personnel, raided the home of the martyred young man, Abu Libdeh, and closed the entire area. They detained those present in the home and conducted field investigations with them. Meanwhile, a force searched and vandalized the house, according to eyewitnesses.
