31°46′41″N35°14′10″E / 31.778°N 35.236°E /31.778; 35.236
| 2023 Al-Aqsa clashes | |||
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| Part of theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict | |||
_05.jpg) TheTemple Mount, also known as the Al-Aqsa compound, where the clashes occurred | |||
| Date | 5 April 2023 (2 years ago) | ||
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| Casualties and losses | |||
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| At least 400 Palestinians arrested[2] | |||
A series of violent confrontations occurred betweenPalestinians andIsraeli police at theAl-Aqsa Mosque compound inJerusalem in April 2023. After the eveningRamadan prayer, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the mosque, prompted by reports that Jews planned to sacrifice a goat at the site (which is forbidden by Israeli law). In response, Israeli police raided the mosque in riot gear, injuring 50 people[1] and arresting at least 400.[3]
In the immediate aftermath of the clashes, Palestinian militant groupsfired rockets into Israel from theGaza Strip andLebanon – acts broadly construed as a response to the events at Al-Aqsa.[4][5] Later that year, one justification given by Hamas for carrying out the7 October attacks against Israel was in retaliation for the events at Al-Aqsa.
The clashes occurred during a period of increased Israeli–Palestinian tensions due to the convergence of the Muslim holy month ofRamadan, the Jewish holiday ofPassover, and the ChristianHoly Week.[6]
Since the beginning of Ramadan on 22 March, Muslim worshippers had attempted to stay overnight in the Al-Aqsa mosque, a practice usually permitted only in the last 10 days of the holiday (11–21 April).Israel Police had entered the mosque to evict worshippers nightly over Ramadan.[5]
On 3 April,Israel Police detained a Jewish activist with theTemple Mount Administration in an attempt to head off attempts by Jewish groups to contravene the ban on Jewish prayer in theAl-Aqsa Mosque compound and perform a ritual sacrifice for Passover, which would begin the evening of 4 April.[7] The same day, the National Security MinisterBen-Gvir advocated for Jewish groups to go to Temple Mount during Passover, but refrain from ritual sacrifice.[8] According to the status quo, Jews are allowed to visit the Temple Mount site but not pray there.[9]
The confrontations began on the night of 4 April, when a few hundred Palestinians barricaded themselves in the Al-Aqsa mosque after Ramadan prayers amid concern that Jews might head to the Temple Mount to perform a ritual sacrifice, despite its prohibition.[10] In response, Israeli police raided the mosque in riot gear. According to Palestinians, police threw stun grenades, fired rubber bullets, and beat Palestinians on the floor with batons, injuring at least 50 people and arresting 400. According to the Israeli police, Palestinians threw stones and launched fireworks at police. A video released by Israeli police showed that fireworks were used inside the mosque. One police officer was injured.[10][1] The events heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and have drawn international attention to the ongoing conflict in the region.[4]
The next night, Palestinian worshippers barricaded themselves in the mosque again and were forcibly removed by Israeli police.[5]
TheTimes of Israel reported a senior Israeli official's assessment that police "went too far" in their treatment of the Palestinians, that it lent weight to theal-Aqsa is in danger rallying cry, encouraged Israel’s enemies, and damaged Israel's reputation. The official called for a review of the officers' conduct, as they had been ordered to act with restraint. However, he stated that the police were compelled to enter the mosque after receiving intelligence that numerous Palestinians had stored weapons there with the intention to attack security personnel and Israeli civilians. Another Israeli security official blamed the Jordan-appointedJerusalem Waqf for not doing enough against Palestinian rioters.[11]ThePalestinian Authority andHamas condemned the Israeli police action, which they described as a crime. Israeli authorities defended their actions as necessary to maintain public order and safety.[12]
Lead spokesperson for the external affairs of theEuropean Union Peter Stano said that the EU is "deeply concerned" by the violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and calls on all parties to show restraint at a time of religious holidays.[13]
Leader of Turkey'sRepublican People's PartyKemal Kılıçdaroğlu condemned the attack.[14]
Emir of KuwaitNawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah condemned Israeli aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Canadian Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau expressed concern and called for a de-escalation of violence.[15]
In a statement by the United Arab EmiratesMinistry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, "strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli police ... and emphasized that worshipers should not barricade themselves inside the mosque and places of worship with weapons and explosives.".[16]
TheForeign Ministry of Oman issued a statement denouncing and condemning the Israel Defense Forces' storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque.[17]Furthermore, the actions of the Israeli Police have been condemned by theministries of foreign affairs ofQatar,[18]Turkey,[19]Jordan,[20]Saudi Arabia,[21]Bahrain,[22]Iran,[23]Morocco,[24]Algeria,[25]Pakistan,[26]Afghanistan,[27]Bangladesh[28] andMalaysia.[29]
Following the incident, Palestinian militant groups warned of further confrontation.[5] On the day of the Al-Aqsa violence, over a dozen rockets were fired towards Israel from theHamas-controlled Gaza Strip.[30] TheIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that nine rockets were fired from theGaza Strip toward Israel.[4]
On 6 April 2023, dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel.[31][32] According to Israel, the rockets from Lebanon were fired by Palestinian factions Hamas andPIJ withHezbollah's approval.[33][5][34] On 7 April, theIsraeli Air Force retaliated by striking targets inTyre, Lebanon as well as in theGaza Strip.[35]
Furthermore, two salvoes of rocket fire came fromSyria between 9–10 April towards the occupiedGolan Heights. It was reported that theLiwa al-Quds, a Palestinian militia loyal to theAssad regime, claimed responsibility for the attack.[36]
On 7 October 2023,Hamas launcheda major surprise attack onIsrael with rocket barrage and an incursion, igniting theGaza war. The commander of theIzz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades,Mohammed Deif, claimed the attack was conducted in response to "desecration of theAl-Aqsa Mosque".[37]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Al-Aqsa |
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