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Dozens hurt as Palestinians, Israeli police clash at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 08 May 2021, 12:18 am Print

Dozens hurt as Palestinians, Israeli police clash at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday Al-Aqsa Mosque Clash

Photo: twitter.com/firstqiblah

Jerusalem: At least 163 Palestinians and six Israeli police officers have been injured in clashes at a mosque in Jerusalem, according to reports.

The incident took place on Friday evening at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Reports said weeks-long tensions between Israel and the Palestinians over Jerusalem culminated into the Friday clash where Israeli police resorted to firing rubber bullets and stun grenades and Palestinians threw stones and bottles.

The Al-Aqsa mosque, a revered place for Muslims, is also a holy site for the Jews, who referred to it as Temple Mount.

The place witnesses violence almost regularly.

Meanwhile, The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Vennesland, said he was deeply concerned by the latest development and urged people to maintain calm.

"Deeply concerned by the heightened tensions & violence in & around #Jerusalem. I call on all to act responsibly & maintain calm. All must respect the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City in the interest of peace & stability. Political & religious leaders must act now," Vennesland's tweet read.

Prior to the clash, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians on Friday morning, after three men opened fire on an Israeli base in the West Bank.

Since the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied East Jerusalem and considers the entire city its capital, against the international community's stance on the same. On the other hand, Palestinians, hoping for an independent state, claim East Jerusalem as their future capital.