Israel fires at Gaza after storming Al-Aqsa Mosque, attacking worshippers

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Palestinians and rights groups are concerned about deepening inequality after national guard approval

Palestinians and rights groups are concerned about deepening "inequality" after Israel’s parliament approved the formation of an armed force likely to be under the control of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The force is expected to include 2,000 officers including border police, army reservists and civilians, with an aim to tackle “nationalist crime” with a strong focus on cities with prominent Palestinian populations. 

Activists and civil society groups have condemned the approval, which was sought by Ben-Gvir, describing the new force as a militia that will embolden Israeli settlers and increase violence against Palestinians.

“This not only deepens the inequality, it builds two parallel law enforcement systems — one only for Palestinians,” Adi Mansour, an attorney at Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, told The New Arab.

“Imagine [what happened in May 2021] on a whole new scale supported by the state, and [armed civilians] would be given police authorities that would grant them total immunity to do whatever they want to do,” Mansour added.

During the Palestinian uprising in May 2021, armed Israeli civilians attacked Palestinians and their property under the protection of law enforcement. 

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US Office of Palestinian Affairs call for de-escalation

The US Office of Palestinian Affairs has called for de-escalation of "shocking scenes" by al-Aqsa mosque, after Israeli forces stormed the holy site and arrested hundreds of worshippers.

"Violence has no place in a holy site and during a holy season. Alarmed by the shocking scenes in Al Aqsa Mosque and rockets launched from Gaza toward Israel," the office wrote.

Violence has no place in a holy site and during a holy season. Alarmed by the shocking scenes in Al Aqsa Mosque and rockets launched from Gaza toward Israel. We call for restraint and de-escalation to allow peaceful worship and to protect the sanctity of the holy sites.

— U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (@USPalAffairs) April 5, 2023

"We call for restraint and de-escalation to allow peaceful worship and to protect the sanctity of the holy sites," they added.

Israeli forces push young boys away from Al-Aqsa Gates

Israeli border police pushed young boys away from one of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque following the noon prayer on Wednesday.

The situation on the ground is "somewhat tense", according to TNA's correspondent.

Over 400 Palestinians detained in Israeli al-Aqsa raid

Over 400 Palestinians were detained as Israeli police attempted to remove Muslim worshipers from inside the Al-Aqsa mosque after Taraweeh prayers. 

Some worshipers revert to the practice of seclusion in the Mosque during the holy month, but the Israeli police have been adamant about removing them from the sacred site. 

Hiba Qaddoumi, a lawyer representing the detained, said that more than 400 are being held by the police and “many need medical intervention.”

“Most of the detainees will be released on the condition to be barred from the Mosque for seven days,” Qaddoumi added.

Israeli police barring Muslims under 65 from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Israeli police are barring Muslims below 65 from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque following a long night of tensions at the holy site.

Nearly four hundred Palestinians were arrested during a violent police raid aimed to vacate the worshipers from the Mosque quarters following the conclusion of the Taraweeh prayers on Tuesday evening.

"I’ve been trying to get in since the night before but that they wouldn’t let me in. They told me to come back tomorrow," Yousef Qasem 23, from the town of Tireh, told TNA.

The Islamic Waqf authority in charge of managing the Muslim holy site condemned the incursion describing the actions of the Israeli police as "sacrileges."

"These actions are blatant violations against the identity of the Mosque, which is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims...The Waqf appeals to the Hashemite custodian of the Haram al-Sharif, the Arab and Muslim worlds and the international community to end the aggressions and the violations of the sanctity of the al-Aqsa and the holy month of Ramadan and the right of Muslim worshipers to practice their right".

Arab states condemn Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa 

The Arab League on Wednesday condemned a raid by Israeli forces on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

"The extremist approaches that control the policy of the Israeli government will lead to widespread confrontations with the Palestinians if they are not put to an end," League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement. 

Statement : Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation forces storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking worshippers#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/hL2LyyUv6L

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) April 5, 2023

Qatar also condemned "in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation forces storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking worshippers".

“These attacks against those who worship in Masjid al-Aqsa during the holy month of Ramadan are in no way acceptable.

Turkey added to the discussion, condemning Israel and calling for the government to "cease all provocations".

"We condemn the Israeli security forces raiding Al-Aqsa Mosque, intervening in the Qibla Masjid and detaining many Palestinian civilians," the Turkish foreign affairs ministry wrote. 

"We are very concerned about the escalation that has already spread to the region, especially Gaza. The Israeli government must immediately cease all provocations", it added.

Hamas say rocket fire in response to Police Al-Aqsa raid

Hazem Qassem, a spokesperson for Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, said the overnight rocket fire was a response to the police raid in the Al-Aqsa mosque and showed Israel would not be able to separate Gaza from the West Bank.

"The Zionist bombardment on Gaza was a failed attempt to prevent Gaza from continuing its support to our people in Jerusalem and the West Bank by all means," Qassem said.

However neither Hamas, nor the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad movement, claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were instead claimed by the smaller Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Resistance Committee.

The Israeli military says it holds Hamas responsible for all attacks from Gaza.

Police 'beat worshippers' inside Al-Aqsa Mosque buildings

Videos circulating on social media showed fireworks going off and police beating people inside one of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound buildings. Police video showed police entering the building while firecrackers exploded in the darkness.

Israeli police said in a statement that security units were forced to enter the compound after what it called masked agitators locked themselves inside the mosque with fireworks, sticks and stones.

During the Islamic month of Ramadan, some Muslims decide to perform itikaaf - the Islamic practise of staying in a mosque for a number of days to devote oneself to worship.

However, Israeli forces have been reported as forcing worshippers outside of mosques at night, preventing Muslims from worshipping in the way they had hoped.

"Throughout the presence of police forces in the compound, stones were thrown and multiple firecrackers were set off inside the mosque by many law-breaking individuals and rioters," the police statement said, adding that two police officers were wounded.

It said police arrested and removed more than 350 people who had barricaded themselves inside. "The police did a good job," the hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a statement.