On Friday, July 14, three Arab Israelis opened fire on Israeli security forces near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, resulting in several fatalities, including two policemen. Reuters, citing the Israeli police, reports that three 'terrorists' were killed in the ensuing gunfire from security forces. The identities of the attackers remain unknown. The news agency described the incident as the 'most serious' in recent years, occurring near a site sacred to both Muslims and Jews. According to Israeli Army Radio, the shooting took place near a location referred to by Muslims as the 'Noble Sanctuary' and by Jews as the 'Temple Mount.' Following the shooting and the deaths of the two policemen, security forces closed the area to visitors and prevented Muslims from gathering for their Friday prayers. Shortly thereafter, police officially announced that Friday prayers could not be held at the site 'for security reasons.' While Reuters describes the 'complete' closure of this holy site to Muslims as 'rare,' the Grand Mufti of Palestinians in Jerusalem urged Muslims to disregard the police order. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident, and the Palestinian Authority has not yet reacted, according to Reuters. However, the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, praised the attack, which the Israeli police described as 'terroristic.' A Hamas spokesperson stated in a released statement that Hamas 'applauds the heroic operation in Jerusalem.' A wave of Palestinian street attacks that began in 2015 has subsided but has not completely stopped. Since the onset of this wave, at least 257 Palestinians and one Jordanian citizen have lost their lives. According to the Israeli government, at least 176 of these fatalities were attackers themselves, while the rest died during subsequent clashes and protests. Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital, a position not fully accepted by the international community. Palestinians also regard East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Death of Two Israeli Policemen Following Shooting Near Al-Aqsa Mosque
A shooting incident near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem resulted in the deaths of two Israeli policemen and three Arab Israeli attackers. The event is significant as it highlights ongoing tensions in the region, particularly around sacred sites for both Muslims and Jews, and has drawn varied reactions from Palestinian groups.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Three Arab Israelis opened fire on Israeli security forces near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, resulting in the deaths of two policemen and the attackers. The site was subsequently closed to Muslim worshippers for Friday prayers.
- The attackers were killed by Israeli security forces.
- The Al-Aqsa Mosque is a sensitive religious site for both Muslims and Jews.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is a contentious site in Jerusalem, sacred to both Muslims and Jews, often becoming a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%