Israeli Police Assault Al Aqsa Mosque Complex, Dozens Of Worshipers Reported Injured

JAKARTA - Israeli police stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem in the early hours of Wednesday, attacking worshippers and firing stun grenades at Palestinian youths who had thrown fireworks and stones.

Several Palestinians were injured by rubber bullets used by Israeli police, while others were beaten in pre-dawn raids, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, citing The National News, April 5

The Palestinian Red Crescent said its medics were prevented from reaching the mosque.

"I was sitting on a chair reading (the Koran)," said an elderly woman outside the mosque, as quoted by Reuters.

"They threw stun grenades, one of which hit me in the chest."

Meanwhile, the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that dozens of worshipers were injured in the attack.

Talab Abu Eisha, 49, said more than 400 men, women, and children were offering prayers at Al Aqsa when police surrounded the mosque.

"The youths were afraid and started to close the doors," he said, adding that police forces "stormed into the east corner, beating and arresting the men there".

He said police were barring all men under the age of 50 from passing through the gate leading to the compound for morning prayers on Wednesday.

On the other hand, Israeli Police said that they were forced to enter the compound after "several unlawful youths and masked agitators" brought fireworks, sticks, and stones and barricaded themselves into the mosque.

Police said the youths shouted violent slogans and locked the front door.

"After long and repeated attempts to get them out by talking were unsuccessful, police forces were forced into the compound to get them out," police said.

"When the police entered, stones were thrown at them and fireworks were fired from inside the mosque by a large group of instigators," the police continued, saying one officer was injured in the leg.

Videos shared on social media platforms appear to show police going inside the mosque as fireworks are set off. Some showed police beating people with batons and rifles inside the mosque.

Meanwhile, a video released by the police shows repeated explosions of fireworks taking place inside the mosque. Outside the gate, police dispersed the group of youths with stun grenades and rubber bullets.