Israeli police closed and cancelled Friday noon prayers in Al Aqsa mosque and briefly detained Jerusalem’s top Muslim cleric after three Palestinians and two Israeli police officers were killed in a shootout in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Sheikh Mohammad Ahmed Hussein, who decried the mosque closure, was taken into custody from the Bab Al-Asbat area (Lion’s Gate) after leading an open-air prayer nearby.
“Israeli police detained my father in a violent manner and took him to unknown destination,” said Omar, son of the grand mufti.
#Palestinian pray out side of lion gate , #Israeli security did not allow Friday prayer inside al Aqsa mousqe . #Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/KerYjY2Uul
— Nasser Atta (@nasseratta5) July 14, 2017
Hussein was later released on $2,800 bail.
Sheikh Omar Keswani, a religious official at Al Aqsa, decried the closure and cancellation of Friday prayers.
“Forbidding the Friday prayer is an unfair procedure,” Keswani told Al Jazeera. “What happened earlier is now being taken advantage of by the Israeli right to impose a new reality in Al Aqsa mosque.”
3 #Palestinians killed, 2 Israeli Occupiers injured after Palestinians opened fire at ?? Occupiers, defending their Aqsa Mosque pic.twitter.com/yR6KPydGfq
— Abbs Winston (@AbbsWinston) July 14, 2017
Haj Khalil Abu Elsheikh, 77, travelled 100km from Beer-sheva to attend Friday prayers at Al Aqsa mosque.
“No religion allows this,” he told Al Jazeera, referring to praying on the side of the road. “No belief accepts this.”
The ancient, marble-and-stone compound houses the Al Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, and the 7th century Dome of the Rock. Thousands pray there every Friday.
Friday prayers held in the streets of #Jerusalem after banning prayers in Al Aqsa mosque by Israeli occupation . https://t.co/qXWrMNz62K pic.twitter.com/bOlKY5gJGO
— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) July 14, 2017
The Western Wall of the compound, also known as the Wailing Wall, is considered the holiest site in Judaism.
Following the attack, Israeli police cleared the Al Aqsa mosque and closed it for public. They identified the assailants as Arab citizens of Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reached out to Netanyahu in a phone call to discuss the situation in Jerusalem, highlighting the concern about a possible escalation, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Israeli Occupational Forces killed 3 Palestinians inside the Al Aqsa Mosque. #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/M87Fdt64pv
— ارشاد نبی?? (@Kashmir_rise) July 14, 2017
Abbas condemned the attack and said he rejects “any violence from any party, particularly at holy sites”.
(Al Jazeera, PC, Social Media)
Quit pushing Palestinians into a corner. They, anyone for that matter, will only take so much of the occupation for so long. Perhaps… no definitely. .. the ‘israelis’ want to provoke violence so they can forever cry victimhood. Alas, one day it WILL fall on deaf ears.
LONG LIVE RESISTANCE. IT IS A RIGHT. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
When will this criminal behavior by Israel will come to an end?
I am very disappointed that the Trump regime is supporting Israel, even more than Obama ever did. There is an old Spanish saying that reads: “No hay mal que dure cien anos, ni cuerpo que lo resista”.