Clashes leave 57 Palestinians injured in Jerusalem

23/07/2017| IslamWeb

At least 57 Palestinians were injured as clashes broke out with Israeli police outside Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinian Red Crescent said on Saturday.

In a statement, the Palestinian Red Crescent said 12 wounded were taken to hospitals while the others were treated at the scene.

Most of the injuries were caused by rubber bullets, it added.

Israeli police used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas against the protesters who rejected to enter Al-Aqsa mosque through the metal detectors at the Lions' Gate [Bab al-Asbat] in the old city of East Jerusalem.

Anger has spilled over across the West Bank since last week when Israel shut the Al-Aqsa Mosque, following a deadly shootout.

The mosque was reopened after a two-day closure, with Israel installing metal detectors at the mosque gates, which Palestinians say aim to change the status quo -- a delicate balance of prayer and visiting rights.

Israel, for its part, refused to remove the detectors, claiming the security measures were similar to procedures taken at other holy sites around the world.

Jerusalem is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which for Muslims represents the world's third-holiest site.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinians pray at Lions' Gate, an entrance to Jerusalem's Old City, in protest over Israel's new security measures... July 20, 2017 [Reuters]

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