Violence resumed for a second straight night in Jerusalem on Wednesday when Palestinian worshippers barricaded themselves inside Al-Aqsa Mosque at the Old City’s sensitive compound and Israeli police used force to remove dozens of worshippers, reports AP.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported at least six people were injured in the latest violence.
The unrest was less intense than the previous night. But the situation remained combustible as Muslims marked the Ramadan holy month and Jews began the weeklong Passover holiday.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip renewed their rocket fire at Israel, raising fears of a wider conflagration.
The Islamic Waqf authorities, which manages the compound, said police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
The Israeli police said that “dozens of law-breaking juveniles” had fomented chaos, throwing rocks and other objects at officers and compelling police to act to restore “security, law and order.”
More Palestinians had gathered in the mosque, responding to calls by Waqf to pray inside overnight. At one of the mosque entrances, police officers could be seen escorting dozens of Palestinians out of the compound.
Residents and shoppers milled around, watching social media videos on their phones showing the renewed clashes that had happened just meters away.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
