Israeli Police Enter 'Holy Site' Al-Aqsa Mosque, Clash with Muslims

Police-Clashes with Protesters Across Yerusalem
Two Palestinians Arrested

On the 15th (local time), Israeli police entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, an Islamic holy site in East Jerusalem, pushed Palestinian protesters toward the mosque walls. (Image source=AFP Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and clashed with Muslims.

According to the Associated Press on the 17th (local time), Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque and drove out Muslims. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is a holy site shared by Muslims, Jews, and Christians. During the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters have been ongoing in the area.

Israeli police claimed that Muslims had set up barricades to block Jewish access to the mosque. When the police entered the mosque, Palestinians threw stones and shouted slogans such as "God is great," AP reported.

Palestinian medical personnel reported that 10 people were injured in the clashes around the Al-Aqsa Mosque on that day.

The police stated that in the Old City of East Jerusalem, Palestinian protesters threw stones at a bus carrying Jewish passengers, injuring some of them. Two Palestinians who threw stones were arrested. The police explained in a statement that "this was a measure to ensure the routine visits of Jews to the holy site."

In the Old City of East Jerusalem, where the holy site called "Temple Mount" by Jews and the "Noble Sanctuary" by Muslims is located, conflicts and clashes between Palestinian residents and Israeli police frequently occur. Especially this year, with the overlap of Ramadan, the Jewish major holiday Passover (April 15-23), and the Christian festival of Easter (April 17), there are concerns that religious conflicts and violence at sites such as the Al-Aqsa Mosque will intensify. On the 15th, more than 150 people were injured in clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Last year, clashes also occurred between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which became the trigger for the "11-day war" between the Israeli military and the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.