The injury of 30 citizens with rubber bullets and dozens suffocate during the violent clashes in Al-Aqsa
The Israeli forces broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday morning through Dung and Al-Silsileh Gates. Witnesses said that the Israeli forces (Special Forces, snipers, Intelligence, Musta’ribeen and borders police) broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque around 7:40 a.m. and were deployed in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa especially near Al-Qibli Mosque. They randomly fired sound grenades and rubber bullets towards the Marabouts in Al-Aqsa. Witnesses added that the Israeli forces assaulted the Marabouts in Al-Aqsa courtyards and surrounded the worshippers in Al-Qibli Mosque in addition to getting on top of the roofs and high area inside Al-Aqsa. The Musta’ribeen unit went on the roof of Al-Qibli Mosque in an unprecedented step. Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Omar Kiswani, director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, said that the snipers fired live bullets during the break-in which hit the platform of Salah Eddin inside Al-Qibli Mosque. He also pointed out that the forces insisted on breaking-into Al-Qibli Mosque on Wednesday but the Islamic Awqaf intervened and prevented them. He added that the forces withdrew from the Mosque around 8:45 and the clashes last for more than an hour which is considered a serious escalation. Clashes at Al-Aqsa Gates Violent clashes broke out at Al-Aqsa gates after hundreds of Jerusalemites including employees of Al-Awqaf, constructions committee, students of Al-Aqsa Schools and other citizens were prevented from entering. The forces established iron barriers few meters from Al-Aqsa and dispersed the people present near the gates by force using batons and pepper gas. Witnesses said that dozens suffocated during the forces assaults and others were injured with bruises. The forces arrested one student from Lions Gate and assaulted and severely beat him; they also arrested one of Al-Aqsa guards, Mohammad Mujahed, near Al-Silsileh Gate. Around 10 a.m. the occupation police allowed the Muslims to enter Al-Aqsa on condition of detaining their IDs at the gates. They also searched the bags of every worshipper entering Al-Aqsa so that they don’t sneak in food for the Marabouts. Settlers breaking-into Al-Aqsa During the violent clashes at Al-Aqsa, the forces allowed 40 settlers to break-into Al-Aqsa through Dung Gate towards Al-Silsileh Gate without allowing them to carry out their usual tour in Al-Aqsa courtyards. Dr. Ziad Sroor Dr. Ziad Sroor from Al-Aqsa Mosque clinics explained that 30 citizens were injured with rubber bullets where most of the injuries were moderate; note that the injuries were mainly in the head, face and chest. Sroor pointed out that the occupation forces used a new weapon on Wednesday which is a “clear rubber that has a needle and a poisonous substance inside”. When the bullet hits the body, the needle comes out and spreads the poisonous maters on the body causing stains. Dozens of Jerusalemites suffocated after they were sprayed with pepper gas.
