Worshippers forced to lie facedown during the Mosque raid
By George Swarei
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Harare has issued a statement Wednesday condemning in the strongest terms the Israeli police’s invasion of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City.
According to the statement Israeli forces brutally attacked hundreds of peaceful Palestinian worshippers who were holding an all-night Ramadan prayer vigil using tear gases and rubber coated bullets.
Ambassador Tamar Almassri said Over 500 Palestinian worshippers were unlawfully arrested and medics were prevented from accessing and helping the worshippers who were in distress.
The Ambassador appealed for support from human rights organizations, governments and people all over the world to condemn and hold Israel accountable.
“The State of Palestine requests UNSC to urgently devise effective measures to ensure the protection of worshippers and the full respect for the historic and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Palestinian people will continue to exercise their right to defend Jerusalem, its mosques and churches from the ongoing Israeli aggression which is meant to Judaize the holy city of Jerusalem,” he said.
Friction at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound has set off violence in recent years and there is concern that tensions could escalate this month, as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan coincides with Judaism’s Passover and Christian Easter.
Israeli police said in a statement that it was forced to enter the compound after masked agitators locked themselves inside the mosque with fireworks, sticks and stones.
“When the police entered, stones were thrown at them and fireworks were fired from inside the mosque by a large group of agitators,” the statement said, adding that a police officer was wounded in the leg.
Palestinian groups condemned Israel’s attacks on worshippers, which they described as a crime.
“We warn the occupation against crossing red lines at holy sites, which will lead to a big explosion,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
