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| The Al-Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount area is frequently the scene of clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians. (Source: Reuters) |
The clashes took place just before the Jewish holiday of Passover, when dozens of young men carrying sticks, stones and fireworks barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on the evening of April 4 to cause trouble.
Earlier, Israeli police shot and wounded a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in the Silwan neighborhood near the shrine. Police said the teenager was among suspects who threw rocks and petrol bombs at a security vehicle, prompting them to open fire after the suspects tried to open the vehicle's door.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said clashes at Al-Aqsa mosque left several Palestinians injured, but did not give a specific number.
Shortly after the media reported the clash, several rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli territory. The Israeli military said it had activated a missile warning system in several Jewish neighborhoods near the area.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned Israel not to cross the "red line" in the Al-Aqsa mosque area to avoid serious consequences.
The Foreign Ministries of Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all called on Israel to stop activities that could increase tension and instability in the region.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on the same day that the actions of Israeli security forces at Al-Aqsa mosque violated the "sacredness", "crossed the line" and were "unacceptable".
Speaking on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) conference in Brussels (Belgium), Mr. Cavusoglu stated: "We condemn this attack. The process of normalizing relations with Israel has just begun, but our commitment cannot be exchanged for the Palestinian cause and principles."
The German Foreign Ministry also called on "those who have influence over the current situation to take responsibility not to add fuel to the fire and to do everything possible to calm the situation."
Also on April 5, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his country is extremely concerned about the decisions the Israeli government is making and the violence at the Al-Aqsa mosque.
Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that, as a friend of the Jewish state, "we recognize that the Israeli government needs to change its approach."
The Arab League (AL) immediately held an emergency meeting late at night after the clash and called on the United Nations Security Council to intervene to stop Israel's actions at the Al-Aqsa mosque/Temple Mount.
In the face of international protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country's authorities are trying to ease tensions after the clashes.
“Israel is taking action to maintain the status quo and de-escalate the situation on the Temple Mount,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. “Israel is committed to maintaining freedom of prayer, free access for all worshippers, and the status quo of the Temple Mount, and will not allow violent extremists to change this.”
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