Violence has erupted for the second night at a holy site in Jerusalem, amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Israeli police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse Palestinian protesters who had gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City, while Palestinians hurled stones and fireworks at the police. At least 53 Palestinians and six Israeli police officers were injured in the clashes.
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| Representational Image AP |
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which is revered by Muslims as the third holiest site in Islam, has been a flashpoint for tension between Israel and Palestine for decades. It is located in the Old City, which is home to both Jewish and Muslim holy sites, and is a site of frequent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.
The latest outbreak of violence began on the night of Hanuman Jayanti, when Israeli police attempted to remove a barricade that had been set up by Palestinians in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The Palestinians had set up the barricade in protest against the eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem.
The eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah has been a major source of tension between Israel and Palestine in recent weeks. Israeli settlers have claimed ownership of several homes in the neighborhood, and Israeli courts have ordered the eviction of several Palestinian families from their homes.
The international community has condemned the violence and called for calm. The United Nations has expressed concern about the situation in Jerusalem and called on all sides to exercise restraint and avoid escalation. The United States has also called for calm, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that "all sides need to de-escalate, reduce tensions, and avoid any actions that would jeopardize the safety and security of people in Jerusalem."
The violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound comes amid a wider escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine. In the past week, militants in the Gaza Strip have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, while Israel has responded with airstrikes against targets in Gaza. At least 28 Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed in the violence.
The current escalation of violence has been described as the worst since 2014, when Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, engaged in a 50-day war that resulted in the deaths of more than 2,200 Palestinians and 73 Israelis.
The violence has sparked protests around the world, with thousands of people taking to the streets in cities across Europe, the Middle East, and North America to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people. In several cities, the protests have turned violent, with clashes between protesters and police.
As the violence continues to escalate, there are growing fears that the conflict could spiral out of control and lead to a wider regional war. The international community is calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations, but with tensions running high and both sides digging in their heels, a peaceful resolution seems increasingly unlikely.
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