More noise: Israeli police armed with rifles that can fire “rubber bullets” have cleared the grounds of the temple at the famous Al-Sakhrah and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo: Mahmoud Elyan / Associated Press
Jerusalem (VG) flags were raised as tens of thousands gathered today to perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Despite the ceasefire, new clashes occurred with the Israeli police.
Two weeks ago, Israeli riot police clashed with Palestinian protesters after Friday prayers at the end of Ramadan. The anger that raged in the Palestinian campus11 days of war between Hamas and Israel.
Today, however, thousands of Muslims are again free to ascend to pray, without restriction due to the large presence of the Israeli security forces.
When the Friday prayers ended, new clashes erupted.
According to an Israeli police spokesman, hundreds of “stones and firebombs” were thrown at the security forces. Palestinian health workers reported that 15 people required treatment afterward, NTB writes.
background: The spark that ignited everything
protection
He came yesterday cease-fire After the outbreak of the last bloody war between Hamas in Gaza and Israel.
The complex in which the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Rocky Mosque (the Dome of the Rock) are located is the third holiest site for Sunni Islam, but in roughly the same place it is the holiest site in Judaism, the Wailing Wall (Western Wall).
The Temple Mount is one of the most controversial religious sites in the world, and since the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, it has become a symbol of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Today, young Orthodox Jewish boys meander among Muslim Arabs who rushed to Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque – a sight one hardly sees during the turmoil of recent weeks, according to locals in the Old City of East Jerusalem.
Celebration: The Palestinian flag and Hamas were raised in the air during Friday prayers at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. Western journalists were not allowed in. Foto: AMMAR AWAD / X90085
Things are about to return to normal in a very tense city.
But at the main entrance to the Temple Mount, the Israeli police stop and prevent journalists and others from gaining unauthorized access.
This is as far as we get.
War is being destroyed
At the main entrance to the Temple Mount, Samir Sawar, 51, has been selling bread for more than 30 years, as his father did before him.
– I feel bad. It is about religion, not politics. If I wanted to come to pray, then I should go to pray, but when I wasn’t allowed, it was too heavy, he tells VG.
Bread seller: Samir Sawaf, 51, has been selling bread at the entrance to Al-Aqsa Mosque for 30 years. Every Friday he sees thousands of streams pass through the narrow streets and even the height of the temple. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
– The war stops working. Then there are no stores anymore.
Does the feeling today differ from the Friday prayer last week?
At the moment, it looks the same, but in a week or ten days, I think we’ll be back to normal, he replies.
V-SIGN: Moaz Al-Jouni tells VG that he’s moving around as usual and he’s not afraid of anything. The Israel Police Force has been very visible in the Old City, but to a lesser extent than it has been in recent weeks. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
It spreads from the living
Although the conflict between Arabs and Jews in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank has a multi-faceted historical background, this time it began in a neighborhood just over two kilometers from the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Sheikh Jarrah It is a small area in East Jerusalem controlled by the Arabs. Here, in mid-April, it emerged that four Palestinian families risk losing their homes to Israeli settlers, depending on the outcome of the lawsuit.
Children: A little girl walked with her mother through the Old City of East Jerusalem before the start of Friday prayers. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
Clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli forces across Jerusalem.
When they reached Al-Aqsa Mosque When the Israeli forces did not withdraw, rockets began to be launched from Gaza and the armed Hamas movement
Israel responded bomber.
US President Joe Biden stressed Israel’s right to defend itself, while increasing international pressure for a ceasefire.
According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, at least 243 Palestinians, including 66 children, were killed in 11 days of the Israeli attacks. On the Israeli side, 12 died.
Frustrated: Khaled Geith believes that many are disappointed by the negative speech the imam gave before Friday prayers, as tens of thousands gathered after the ceasefire that came into effect yesterday. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
He was disappointed by the speech before the Friday prayer
Outside the Damascus Gate, one of the busiest entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City, people flock to after Friday prayers.
Here, too, was previously suspended by the Israel Police in response to the riots.
Some show a V for “victory.” Others were disappointed with the speech before Friday prayers.
– Everyone was disappointed with the Al-Aqsa speaker, because his speech was far from Palestine as the context and our religion and it was far from our problems. He was only talking about general things. People were angry with him, says Khaled Geith, whom VG met at the Damascus Gate.
What will people hear?
He answers: “They wanted to hear about Sheikh Jarrah, and they wanted to hear about the Column Gate, and they wanted to hear about Jerusalem.”
The VG Team in Israel: Journalist Erlend Ofte Arntsen and Photographer Thomas Nilsson. Photo: Thomas Nilsson / VG
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