Clashes Between Palestinians and Israeli Police Following Increased Security Measures at Al-Aqsa

Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces around the Friday prayers on July 30 at Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the most important religious sites for Muslims worldwide, have impacted the situation in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories. On this day, referred to by Palestinians as 'Day of Rage,' Israel imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshippers to Al-Aqsa and expanded security measures. While all women and girls, as well as Palestinian men over 50, were allowed to enter the mosque for prayers, many chose to pray in the streets outside the mosque following a call from the Muslim Mufti. According to Israeli media reports, only a very small number of Palestinians entered Al-Aqsa, while the majority remained outside with Mufti Muhammad Hussein. During and before the prayers, slogans such as 'We sacrifice our soul and blood for Al-Aqsa' were chanted by Palestinians in the streets of East Jerusalem. Reports indicate that although most worshippers left peacefully after the prayers, clashes occurred in some Arab neighborhoods within Jerusalem with Israeli security forces. In several neighborhoods in East Jerusalem and surrounding Arab villages and settlements, Israeli security forces fired tear gas at Palestinian stone throwers. In the early hours of these clashes, dozens of Palestinians were reported injured. Several Palestinian activists were also arrested on suspicion of 'incitement and provocation' on this day by Israel. Israeli media had previously reported that from the evening of Thursday, July 29, thousands of Israeli security forces, police, and border guards were deployed around Al-Aqsa and the ancient neighborhoods of East Jerusalem due to concerns about a potential crisis. These clashes are a continuation of the expression of dissatisfaction and anger from Palestinians regarding the new security measures that Israel has implemented since Friday, July 14. Last Friday, an attack by three Arab citizens of Israel armed with a machine gun on Israeli security forces at the entrance to Al-Aqsa resulted in the deaths of two border guards and injuries to another. Following this armed attack, Friday prayers were canceled for the first time in 50 years. However, Israel intensified security checks upon reopening Al-Aqsa on Sunday, July 25. Israel, including through the establishment of electronic gates near the entrances to Al-Aqsa, requires Palestinians deemed 'suspicious' to enter the mosque area through these gates. However, the Palestinian Mufti has called for the removal of these gates and issued a fatwa declaring that passing through them is 'forbidden' for Muslims. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose crisis coincided with his European trip, held an emergency cabinet meeting upon returning to Jerusalem on Thursday evening. According to Israeli media, Mr. Netanyahu's cabinet delegated the decision on whether to keep or remove the electronic gates to the police, and the police command decided to keep the gates. Simultaneously, Palestinian media reported that Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, held an emergency meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Fatah movement along with the Palestinian government after returning from a trip to China. Mahmoud Abbas also engaged in phone conversations with leaders of Arab and Islamic countries, including the King of Jordan and the President of Turkey, as well as discussions with representatives of the U.S. government. In the hours before the Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa, Abbas spoke with Jared Kushner, senior advisor to the White House and son-in-law of Donald Trump, and Jason Greenblatt, U.S. representative for Middle East affairs. Reports indicate that Mahmoud Abbas urged Kushner and Greenblatt to pressure the U.S. government to convince Israel to dismantle the electronic gates. Abbas warned Israel that 'attacking the feelings of Palestinians and Muslims' would have 'very dangerous' consequences. The U.S. government, Israel's most important ally, has expressed concern over this crisis in recent days. According to reports, King Abdullah II of Jordan, whose country oversees Al-Aqsa, has had multiple discussions with Israeli leaders, U.S. officials, Palestinian leadership, and others in recent days to calm the situation. Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel, also explained the situation from Israel's perspective to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a phone conversation on Thursday, a country that has full diplomatic relations with Israel. Concurrently with the events in Jerusalem, Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas's political bureau, issued a warning to Israel during Friday prayers in Gaza. Thousands of Muslims in Jordan, Turkey, and other countries as far as Malaysia expressed their support for Al-Aqsa during the Friday prayers on July 30.