Al-Aqsa has been the site of frequent clashes between Palestinian Arab visitors and both Israeli security forces and Israeli groups, beginning with the 1990 Temple Mount killings, or Al-Aqsa Massacre, and most recently culminating in the 2023 Al-Aqsa clashes.
1990 Temple Mount killings
editThe 1990 Temple Mount killings, or Al Aqsa Massacre,[1][2][3] took place in the Al-Aqsa compound on the Temple Mount, Jerusalem at 10:30 am on Monday, 8 October 1990 before Zuhr prayer during the third year of the First Intifada. Following a decision by the Temple Mount Faithful to lay the cornerstone for the Temple, mass riots erupted,[4] In the ensuing clashes, 17 Palestinians died, [a] more than 150 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli security forces, and more than 20 Israeli civilians and police were wounded by Palestinians.[6] United Nations Security Council Resolution 672, which was rejected by Israel, "condemned especially the acts of violence committed by the Israeli security forces" and United Nations Security Council Resolution 673 urged that Israel reconsider its refusal to allow United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar to carry out an investigation.[7]
2009 Al-Aqsa clashes
editThe 2009 Al-Aqsa clashes started followed rising tensions beginning on 2 August with the forcible evictions of nine Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah. During Ramadan Palestinian access to Al Aqsa Mosque was increasingly restricted. During the last week of Ramadan ending on 19 September, Palestinians from the rest of the West Bank were barred from entry into East Jerusalem for the Jewish New Year.[8]
2017 Temple Mount crisis
editThe 2017 Temple Mount crisis[9][10][11] was a period of violent tensions related to the Temple Mount, which began on 14 July 2017, after a shooting incident in the complex in which Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli police officers. Following the attack, Israeli authorities installed metal detectors at the entrance to the Mount in a step that caused large Palestinian protests and was severely criticized by Palestinian leaders, the Arab League, and other Muslim leaders, on the basis that it constituted a change in the "status quo" of the Temple Mount entry restrictions.[12]
The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf called on Muslims to pray outside the Temple Mount, and not enter the mosque complex until the metal detectors were removed.[13]
On 25 July the Israeli Cabinet voted to remove the metal detectors and replace them with other surveillance measures.[14] Nevertheless, Palestinian activists decided to continue protesting, claiming those cameras represent a greater degree of control than the metal detectors.[15] On 27 July, Israel removed the new security measures from the Mount, which led to the Waqf telling Muslims they could return to pray inside the compound.[16] 113 Palestinians were reportedly injured in clashes with police after thousands of Muslims returned to pray at Temple Mount.[17]
Within an 11-day period, eleven people had died due to the crisis.[18]
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
editIn April 2021, during both Passover and Ramadan, the site was a focus of tension between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. Jewish settlers broke an agreement between Israel and Jordan and performed prayers and read from the Torah inside the compound, an area normally off limits to non-Muslims.[19] On 14 April, Israeli police entered the area and forcibly cut wires to speakers in minarets around the mosque, silencing the call to prayer, claiming the sound was interfering with an event by the Israeli president at the Western Wall.[20] On 16 April, seventy thousand Muslims prayed in the compound around the mosque, the largest gathering since the beginning of the COVID pandemic; police barred most from entering the structure itself.[21] In May 2021, hundreds of Palestinians were injured following clashes in the compound after reports of Israel's intention to proceed to evict Palestinians from land claimed by Israeli settlers.[22][23]
2022 Al-Aqsa Mosque storming
editThe 2022 Al-Aqsa Mosque storming occurred on 15 April 2022, when Israeli forces entered the Temple Mount and used tear gas shells and sound bombs to disperse Palestinians who, they said, were throwing stones at policemen. Some Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa mosque, where they were detained by Israeli police. Over 150 people ended up injured and 400 arrested.[24][25][26]
2023 Al-Aqsa clashes
editThe 2023 Al-Aqsa clashes were a series of violent confrontations that occurred between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem in April 2023. After the evening Ramadan prayer, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the mosque, prompted by reports that Jews planned to sacrifice a goat at the site (which is forbidden by Israeli law). In response, Israeli police raided the mosque in riot gear, injuring 50 people.[27]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "All accounts originally reported anywhere between 19 and 21 deaths. At a 15 October press conference, however, the Jerusalem-based Palestine Human Rights Information Center (PHRIC) lowered the death count to 17, and other organizations and reports followed. Of the deaths initially reported, one had died of a heart attack, two thought to have died were only injured and survived, and one had been shot by an Israeli civilian in another section of Jerusalem (and later died)"[5]
Citations
edit- ^ Fabrico, Roberto (2 December 1990). "A City Divided: Jerusalemites once again have fallen victim to religious hatred and strife". Sun Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel.com.
- ^ United Nations Commission of Human Rights (4 April 2001). "Summary Record of the 19th Meeting" (PDF). Fifty-seventh session. United Nations. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ Reiter, Yitzhak (2008). Jerusalem and its role in Islamic solidarity. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 127. ISBN 9780230607828.
- ^ Inbari, Motti (2009). Jewish fundamentalism and the Temple Mount: who will build the Third Temple?. SUNY Press. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-1-4384-2623-5.
- ^ Report 1991, p. 134.
- ^ "REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH RESOLUTION 672 (1990)". UN. October 31, 1990. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ Report 1991, pp. 153–155.
- ^ "The Humanitarian Monitor: OPT (September 2009) - OCHA report".
- ^ "Greenblatt to arrive in region over Temple Mount crisis". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 24 July 2017.
- ^ "Israeli leaders can still contain Temple Mount crisis, but require political courage". The Times of Israel.
- ^ Maltz, Judy (24 July 2017). "Explained: What Sparked Temple Mount Crisis and Where Do We Go From Here". Haaretz.
- ^ "Arab League says Israel 'playing with fire' at holy site". 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017 – via The Economic Times.
- ^ "Waqf urges Muslims to boycott Temple Mount over metal detectors". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ Lewis, Ori (July 24, 2017). "Israel to replace metal detectors in Jerusalem with less obtrusive surveillance". Reuters. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ Tahhan, Zena. "Jerusalem cameras 'more dangerous than metal detectors'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ Reed, John (2017-07-27). "Israel removes all security measures from al-Aqsa mosque". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ Shaalan, Hassan (27 July 2017). "113 reportedly injured as thousands return to pray at Temple Mount". Ynetnews. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
- ^ Booth, William (25 July 2017). "A young Palestinian vowed to die a martyr, then stabbed 3 members of an Israeli family to death". WashingtonPost. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- ^ Aseel Jundi (24 April 2021). "In Jerusalem, Ramadan sees heightened tensions at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "Israel criticized for silencing call to prayer from Al-Aqsa Mosque". 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ Hamann, Jasper (16 April 2021). "Friday Prayers Draw 70,000 Palestinians to Al Aqsa Mosque". Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
- ^ "Scores injured in fresh night of Jerusalem clashes". The Guardian. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Explainer: Jerusalem tense over evictions and holidays". Reuters. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel; Boxerman, Aaron; staff, T. O. I. "Over 150 injured, 400 arrested as Palestinians clash with cops on Temple Mount". www.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ "Israeli forces raid Al-Aqsa Mosque, over 90 Palestinians injured". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Al-Aqsa mosque: At least 90 injured as Israeli police clash with Palestinians". Sky News. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Al-Aqsa mosque: Violence as Israeli police raid Jerusalem holy site". BBC News. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
Sources
edit- Report (1991). "The Haram Al-Sharif (Temple Mount) Killings". Journal of Palestine Studies. 20 (2): 134–159. doi:10.1080/07329113.2017.1388100. JSTOR 2537210. S2CID 220316137. Retrieved November 6, 2020.