Tel Aviv, May 29 (UNI) Hundreds of far-right Jewish nationalists entered Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, ahead of a provocative flag march that could re-ignite confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of a small ultranationalist opposition party in the Knesset, entered the compound early on Sunday, along with dozens of his supporters.
Israeli forces have occupied the rooftop of the al-Qibli prayer hall in the compound on Sunday morning and besieged the worshippers inside it to enable the passage of settlers to go unhindered.
Israelis have however, prevented Palestinian journalists and photographers from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened them with arrest.
Israeli forces also fired rubber bullets at Palestinians protesters in the compound, in an effort to disperse them.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that the settlers attacked an ambulance crew affiliated with it in the Old City while they were trying to reach an injured person in al-Wad neighbourhood.
Some Jews entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound even attempted to pray, much to the chagrin' of the Palestinians.
Jewish worship is not permitted in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli law, and it is also forbidden by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. However, some far-right Israelis believe that they should be allowed to pray in an effort to upend the delicate status quo, leading to fears among Palestinians that their sovereignty over the compound is being eroded amid calls by far-right Israelis for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock to be replaced with a Jewish temple.
UNI ACL