Israeli forces storm al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, arrest more than 350
Israeli police stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City early Wednesday and arrested more than 350 people, just days after a Palestinian man was killed outside the holy site.
Violent scenes inside the mosque shared on social media show Israeli forces waving flashlights and appearing to strike screaming people with batons inside the darkened building.
Eyewitnesses said that police smashed doors and windows, and fired stun grenades and rubber bullets.
Video shared by Israeli police shows officers entering the mosque by force with their riot shields up as fireworks are launched at them, ricocheting off the walls.
In a statement, Israeli police said its forces entered the mosque after “several law-breaking youths and masked agitators brought into the mosque fireworks, sticks, and stones.”
“When the police entered, stones were thrown at them, and fireworks were fired from inside the mosque by a large group of agitators,” according to the statement.
The Palestinian Red Crescent in Jerusalem said at least 12 people were injured during clashes in and around the mosque, and at least three of the injured were transferred to hospital, some with injuries from rubber bullets.
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