'Intended to kill': Tensions flare as Israeli police allow nearly 200 settlers to storm al-Aqsa

An Israeli settler shot and wounded 15-year-old Khadder Samer Ghurab last night in the old city of Jerusalem. The Jewish settler, who is in his sixties, was taken by the police for questioning. The boy's condition was described as moderate. 

"A preliminary investigation of the details of the incident reveals that, according to the suspicion, a boy attacked and threatened another person (in his 60s, a resident of the Old City) with a stick, who in response shot at the suspect with a licensed weapon," the Israeli police claimed in a statement. 

Naser Qous, a resident of the Old City, told The New Arab that he heard a gunshot, so he went to investigate and found the boy injured. 

"He had merely gotten into an argument with the settler," Qous said. 

Khadder's uncle told TNA that the settler fired four shots, but only one bullet hit his nephew in the shoulder. 

"He intended to kill. There are cameras; the police should show the images, show what happened," Rafe Ghurab said. 

Meanwhile, the Israeli police allowed nearly 200 settlers inside the Al-Aqsa compound on Thursday morning after storming the Mosque and evicting Muslim worshipers hours earlier. 

The Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement that it had treated six injuries from last night's Israeli police raid at the holy site. 

On Tuesday night, the Israeli police rounded up nearly 400 Palestinians after it had executed a violent raid inside the al-Aqsa Mosque. Most of the detainees had been since released. 

״תורידו את הראש״ אמר הקלגס לצעירים המוסלמים שנעצרו בתוך המסגד ואז הוא בעט בהם ומיד לאחר מכן חזר הביתה לחגוג את ליל הסדר ערב פסח.ואז תוהים באולפנים מי הסית את הפלסטינים לבצע פיגועים? השוטרים האלה הם המסית החזק ביותר את הצעירים לבצע פיגועים. pic.twitter.com/o5X9flCSjt

— Ahmad Tibi (@Ahmad_tibi) April 5, 2023

"Put your heads down," the police said to the young Muslims who were arrested inside the mosque and then he kicked them and immediately after that he returned home to celebrate the Seder night on Passover. Then the studios wonder who incited the Palestinians to carry out attacks? These policemen are the strongest instigators of young people to carry out attacks," Arab MK Ahmad Tibi tweeted. 

Tensions flared when the Israeli police attempted to remove Muslim worshipers from inside the Mosque after Taraweeh prayers. 

Some worshipers revert to seclusion or I'tikaf, a common practice in the Al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month; however, the Israeli police have been adamant about removing them from the sacred site. 

Protests also flared in the northern city of Um al-Fahem after residents saw images of the Israeli police raiding the al-Aqsa mosque, also known as al-Masjid al-Qibli. 

Five minors were detained, according to a police statement, for burning tires, shooting firecrackers and throwing rocks at the police.