Aqsa Clashes: Scores Injured in Palestinians, «Israeli» Police Scuffle

Local Editor

Dozens of people had sustained injuries after clashes broke out between "Israeli" military forces and Palestinians at al-Aqsa Mosque as thousands of Muslim worshippers entered the holy site in the occupied Old City of al-Quds [Jerusalem] after abolition of the Tel Aviv regime's restrictive measures.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported on Thursday that 46 people had been wounded both inside the mosque compound and in the immediate area.

Some were beaten and suffered fractured bones, while others were struck with rubber-coated steel bullets.

"Israeli" troopers also fired stun grenades and used pepper sprays, causing several Palestinians to cough and wheeze.

Thousands of Palestinians had earlier streamed into al-Aqsa Mosque for afternoon prayers after the "Israeli" entity forced reopened all the gates to the compound.

A number of young men then scaled the mosque walls and raised the Palestinian national flag at the holy site. "Israeli" Occupation Forces [IOF] took down the flags shortly afterwards.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Waqf [Endowment] and Religious Affairs Sheikh Yousef Id'es has called on Palestinians to hold Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque.

He said the "Israeli" regime's decision to remove controversial new security measures, installed after the July 14 attack, clearly showed that Palestinians were capable of defending their legitimate right of sovereignty over al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque.

On July 14, three Palestinians opened fire on "Israeli" forces at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, killing two of them before being shot dead.

Id'es added that Palestinians must have religious freedom in Jerusalem al-Quds, and pray at al-Aqsa Mosque without the fear of getting arrested.

"Israeli" forces dismantled security measures installed at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound late on Wednesday night.

The measures, which included installation of metal detectors, turnstiles, and additional surveillance cameras, had been imposed following the July 14 attack.

Palestinian worshippers had strongly condemned the apartheid entity's new restrictive measures at al-Aqsa Mosque, engaging in bitter clashes with "Israeli" military forces.

The occupied Palestinian territories had witnessed new tensions ever since IOF introduced restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshippers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds in August 2015.

More than 300 Palestinians had lost their lives at the hands of IOF in the ongoing tensions since the beginning of October 2015.

The Tel Aviv regime had tried to change the demographic makeup of al-Quds over the past decades by constructing settlements, destroying historical sites and expelling the local Palestinian population. Palestinians said the "Israeli" measures are aimed at paving the way for the Judaization of the city.

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Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team