A group of Palestinians threw stones toward the Mughrabi Gate on the Western Wall and chanted inciting slogans at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on Friday morning, shortly after the dawn prayers at the site.
According to Israel Police, one of the stones almost hit a Muslim woman walking in the area and she fell over due to the stone-throwing.
Police entered a few meters into the complex from the Mughrabi Gate and the Palestinians throwing stones scattered and calm was restored to the site.
The police published footage showing the Palestinians gathering the rocks and throwing them on the Temple Mount.
After the dawn prayers on Friday morning, Palestinian media published footage of young Palestinians gathered near the Dome of the Rock chanting slogans in support of factions in the Gaza Strip and “a nation led by Muhammad will not kneel.”
فيديو آخر يوثق اللحظات الأولى لاعتداء قوات الاحتلال على الأهالي عند باب حطة بالبلدة القديمة بالقدس pic.twitter.com/unuuH5RwYL
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) April 7, 2023
Before the prayers, Palestinian media published videos of Palestinians chanting in front of police officers near the Gate of Remission of the Temple Mount and then running away when police officers moved toward them.
Palestinians throw stones toward Mughrabi Gate of Western Wall, April 7, 2023 (Credit: Israel Police)
On Friday morning, Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai held a situation assessment with Jerusalem District police at the Western Wall.
Shabtai noted that “The motivation that has arisen in recent days to violate the order is the result of incessant incitement. We should continue with smart and targeted activity wherever necessary against anyone who disturbs the peace, and on the other hand, continue to allow freedom of worship for everyone and maintain channels of discourse and dialogue.”
Jerusalem District commander Doron Turgeman referred to a number of incidents of unrest that took place overnight, commending police for handling the incidents “in a determined and professional manner.”
“Our operational preparation places a significant emphasis on the threat of terrorism and its purpose is to enable freedom of worship alongside maintaining security and order,” added Turgeman. “In the last few hours, routine and silence are maintained both on the Temple Mount, at the Western Wall and in other places in the Old City and in Jerusalem, as we work to accommodate the large crowd that arrives here, each to their destination, and to maintain their safety and security.”
After the Friday afternoon (Jummah) prayers, a group of Palestinians gathered again by the Dome of the Rock and wave Palestinian and Hamas flags while chanting slogans in support of terrorist groups and violence, including “With our soul and blood, we will sacrifice ourselves for you, O al-Aqsa.”
وقفة في المسجد الأقصى المبارك عقب صلاة الجمعة pic.twitter.com/MsXG5wuWzc
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) April 7, 2023
Palestinians also hung a banner referencing the 6 p.m. deadline issued by the Palestinian factions that sparked Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, with the warning “The Sword of Jerusalem (the Palestinian name for Operation Guardian of the Walls) is not sheathed.”
رفع لافتة دعماً للمقاومة عقب صلاة الجمعة في المسجد الأقصى pic.twitter.com/xKVGQ45Pt0
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) April 7, 2023
Temple Mount unrest comes amid violence in the region
The unrest comes amid clashes between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon that broke out shortly after clashes on the Temple Mount early Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday night, dozens of Palestinians barricaded themselves with fireworks, stones and rods in the mosque ahead of planned Jewish visits to the complex on the eve of Passover on Wednesday morning. Police entered the mosque to remove them and clashes broke out, with hundreds of Palestinians arrested.
Hours after the clashes, about 10 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel and a day later dozens of additional rockets were fired from Gaza and southern Lebanon towards southern and northern Israel.
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