Young Palestinian men clashed today with Israeli officers and settlers around the al-Aqsa Mosque compound as Israeli forces and police officers denied worshipers entry to the holy site.
hundreds of Israelis gathered at Damascus Gate singing nationalistic songs and filing through the area, most of which was shut off to pedestrians.
The rightists, who were allowed into the compound escorted by Israeli forces, started to perform prayers near the Chain Gate opposite to the Dome of the Rock. Israeli forces then removed them by force.
When young Palestinian men, happy to see the Israelis sent away, started to shout “Allahu Akbar,” Israeli forces approached them and both sides began pushing each other.
At the Council Gate, young Palestinian men struggled to pass through crowd-control barriers, but Israeli officers blocked them and attacked the worshipers with clubs and pepper spray.
Separately, clashes erupted between young Palestinians and Israeli extremists at the al-Qattanin Gate after rightists chanted “this is the Temple’s Gate.” Israeli police intervened to end the dispute.
Also today, Israeli police assaulted journalists and protesters waiting at the Damascus Gate in advance of a demonstration by right-wing Israelis coinciding with "Jerusalem Day," a controversial national holiday celebrating what Israelis call the "reunification" of the city.
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