Ultra-nationalist Jews storm Al-Aqsa ahead of Israeli flag march

OCCUPIED PALESTINE: Hundreds of far-right Jewish nationalists on Sunday entered Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, ahead of a provocative flag march that could re-ignite confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of a small ultranationalist opposition party in the Knesset, entered the compound early on Sunday, along with dozens of supporters.

 Media reports said that Israeli forces occupied the rooftop of the al-Qibli prayer hall in the compound on Sunday morning and besieged the worshippers inside it to enable the passage of settlers to go unhindered.

 The reports added that  Israelis have prevented Palestinian journalists and photographers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened them with arrest.

Israeli forces have fired rubber bullets at Palestinians protesters in the compound, in an effort to disperse them.

At least 18 Palestinians have been arrested from within occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli police said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that the settlers attacked an ambulance crew affiliated with it in the Old City while they were trying to reach an injured person in al-Wad neighbourhood.

Some Jews entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound attempted to pray, incensing Palestinians.

Jewish worship is not permitted in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli law, and it is also forbidden by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. However, some far-right Israelis believe that they should be allowed to pray in an effort to upend the delicate status quo.

Palestinians fear that their sovereignty over the compound is being eroded amid calls by far-right Israelis for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock to be replaced with a Jewish temple.

An Israeli police spokesperson said a small group of people had barricaded themselves inside the mosque and were throwing large rocks towards the police officers stationed outside. There were no reports of injuries.

Israeli forces have also erected metal barriers and prevented Palestinian access to Damascus Gate, the main entrance to the Old City.

Palestinian Authority spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Israel considers itself above the law.

In an interview with the Voice of Palestine radio on Sunday, Abu Rudeinah said: “Israel is playing with fire by irresponsibly and recklessly allowing settlers to desecrate sanctities in occupied Jerusalem.”

He called on the international community, especially the US administration, to “shoulder its responsibilities and to not engage in double standards”.

Some 3,000 Israeli police have been deployed throughout the city ahead of the march, which will begin at 4pm local time (1300 GMT) and is expected to end at 10pm (1900 GMT).

Each year, thousands of Israeli far-right groups participate in the parade, waving Israeli flags and singing songs as they pass through the narrow streets of the Old City’s Muslim quarter.

The march is meant to celebrate Israel’s capture of occupied East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. Israel subsequently annexed the area in a move that is not internationally recognised.

Palestinians, who have been forced to shutter their businesses and stay indoors, view the march as a blatant provocation as Jewish settlers flaunt their sovereignty over the occupied territory.