Israel closes al-Aqsa mosque following brutal death of Palestinian infant

Israeli police on Friday closed the gates of occupied East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound following the brutal killing of a Palestinian baby in a village near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, a Palestinian official said.

For Muslims, East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque complex represents the world’s third holiest site.

On Sunday, dozens of Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers were reportedly injured in a violent confrontation that followed the early morning arrival of extremist Jewish settlers backed by Israeli security forces to the compound to mark a religious day of mourning.

The statement called on Israel to put an end to its evil and illegal actions towards Al Aqsa Mosque, stressing that the ongoing Israeli violations of sanctities and worship houses will increase tension in the region, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

Israeli forces, he said, had fired rubber bullets and teargas at 300 Muslim worshipers who had gathered near the Al-Qibali and Al-Aqsa mosques to protest the settlers’ arrival.

The Israeli army, the council said, practiced “state terrorism”, which, it went on to assert, “is more risky than any other [form of] terrorism”.

According to Israeli media reports, the Palestinians intended to disrupt visits by observant Jews to the mosque, which is one of Islam’s holiest sites and is also revered by Jews.

On Sunday, roughly 140 settlers, accompanied by about 40 Israeli security personnel, forced their way into the iconic mosque compound, triggering clashes with Palestinian Muslim worshipers.

“These settlement measures and war crimes are part of a plan by Israeli leaders to impose a “Greater Israel” on historic Palestine and destroy the two-state solution and the chance for peace”, said Hanan Ashrawi in a statement from her office.

Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its indivisible and eternal capital, a claim not recognised internationally.