(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Israeli soldiers fired gas bombs at the young activists to scare them away. Several activists were injured. The clashes took place following the Friday noon prayers at the holy site.
The young activists responded by hurling stone at the soldiers who were extensively deployed in the area preventing hundreds from entering the mosque. The soldiers fired gas bombs and concussion grenades; several residents suffocated after inhaling gas fired by the army.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage reported that dozens of soldiers broke into the area of the main mosque, Al Masjid Al-Qibli, and attacked dozens of protestors, leading to clashes.
The Foundation added that undercover forces of the Israeli army were also deployed on the rooftop of the Al-Qibli mosque and chased protestors. Dozens of Palestinian activists have been taken captive by Israeli forces over the past few days on the pretext of their participation in defending the Aqsa Mosque against extremist Jewish settlers who stormed the Aqsa plazas during the week, according to Hebrew radio.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians headed to the Al-Aqsa mosque for Friday prayers amidst threats by Israeli extremists to break into the mosque "to prove ownership.”
/106
