Human Lives Human Rights: A second consecutive night-time attack on Palestinian worshippers at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque illustrates the sheer brutality of Israel’s apartheid.
Israeli security forces stormed the mosque compound at around 10.30 pm last night, shortly after evening prayers. They fired stun grenades and used rifle butts to beat Palestinians who had gathered at the mosque for Ramadan.
During the first attack on Tuesday night, Israeli security forces arrested at least 450 Palestinians, about 50 of whom are still in detention. Many of those who were released were barefoot and visibly battered and bruised when they emerged from Atarot Detention Centre on Wednesday.
Many detainees, including children, were interrogated and beaten while in detention. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society defined how, during Tuesday night’s attack, Israeli forces had prevented paramedics from accessing wounded people inside the mosque compound by firing rubber bullets at ambulances.
Once again, Israeli security forces have shown the world what apartheid looks like.
These orchestrated attacks demonstrate just how far Israeli authorities will go to maintain their cruel system of apartheid. Shocking footage from the past two days shows Israeli security forces beating men, women and children, and dragging them out of the mosque where they had gathered to spend the night in peaceful prayer and reflection. Once again, Israeli security forces have shown the world what apartheid looks like.
Israeli security forces have now subjected Palestinian worshippers to two consecutive nights of horror, and turned one of the holiest sites in Islam into a crime scene.
We urge the international community to take immediate action to protect Palestinians from violent oppression, and to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their crimes against international law. Impunity for these shocking attacks against people at prayer will only fuel further violence.
With many Palestinians fearful following Tuesday night’s violence, the number of worshippers at al-Aqsa was much lower yesterday. Once again, Israeli security forces first ordered worshippers to leave, before storming the mosque and firing stun grenades and beating people. Some fifty Palestinians are still detained after the first raid on Tuesday/Wednesday. Those who have been released are prohibited from entering Jerusalem’s Old City, including the al-Aqsa Compound, for one week.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said some of their medical personnel were also attacked during Tuesday night’s raid, and that one of their ambulances was hit by rubber bullets.
Israeli forces regularly raid al-Aqsa during the month of Ramadan. An attack in 2021 left at least 170 Palestinians injured and stirred widespread protests.
Following the first raid on al-Aqsa, protests broke out in several Palestinian cities and towns inside Israel. Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and Thursday, in response to missiles fired into Israel.
