More than 120 people were injured on the night of Thursday 22 April to Friday 23 April in clashes involving far-right Jews, Palestinians and police forces in Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported at least 105 wounded, of whom around 20 have been transferred to hospital, while the Israeli police added that they identified 20 in its ranks during these clashes, the most violent of these. last years in the Holy City.
The violence began Thursday evening on the sidelines of a demonstration by the far-right Lahava movement, openly hostile to the Palestinians, at the entrance to the old city. Hundreds of police and cavalry had been deployed to protect ” freedom of speech “ and the “Right to demonstrate” of this group, and avoid any overflow.
Page Contents
Tear gas and stun grenades
Palestinians who saw the rally as a provocation held their own demonstration. This collided with the exit of the faithful from the Esplanade des Mosques after the night prayer of Ramadan, the month of Muslim fasting.
Far-right protesters shouted: “Death to the Arabs! “ and threw stones at the Israeli security forces, also the target of projectiles by Palestinian demonstrators. The police attempted to disperse the protesters using tear gas, stun grenades and a water cannon.
After 10 p.m., police and the Palestinian Red Crescent had reported some arrests and injuries, but clashes continued into the night between police and Palestinians.
An Agence France-Presse journalist saw streets ablaze on the outskirts of the old town, while witnesses shared images of fierce clashes on social media, including that of a Jew being beaten by Palestinians surrounding him.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who sits in the occupied West Bank, denounced the “Incitement to hatred” Israeli far-right groups and urged the international community to ” protect “ the Palestinians of East Jerusalem.
Rockets towards Israel, then retaliation on the Gaza Strip
Jordan, which controlled East Jerusalem for nearly 20 years before it was taken and annexed by Israel in 1967, condemned the “Provocations carried out by extremist Jewish groups”, calling on Israel to do ” to cease (…) the harassment “ residents of the Old City and lift restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“Deeply concerned”, the United States called for “Firmly reject” the “Speech by extremist demonstrators chanting violent hate slogans”. “We call for calm and unity, and urge the authorities to ensure the safety and rights of all in Jerusalem”, tweeted US diplomacy spokesman Ned Price.
Later that night, at least seven rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave geographically separated from the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, into Israel, according to the IDF. Some rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile shield and others fell in vacant lots.
In retaliation, Israeli army tanks struck the Gaza Strip, according to sources on the spot, the Israeli military claiming to have targeted positions of Hamas, an armed Islamist movement which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and had acquiesced in these statements. last years to a truce with the Hebrew state after three wars between the two camps (2008, 2012, 2014).
Palestinian legislative elections
In a speech Thursday at the United Nations Security Council, Special Envoy for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, denounced clashes for several days involving police, Israeli civilians and Palestinians, and called for a ” de-escalation “.
Incidents had already erupted in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Videos shared on social media and local media showed Arab employees working in shops in downtown Jerusalem and journalists being assaulted by young Jews who shouted: “Death to the Arabs! “
In an interview with the Israeli channel Kan, the mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, said he was in talks with Palestinian leaders in East Jerusalem in the hope of putting an end to the “To this unnecessary violence” which take place one month before the Palestinian legislative elections.
The Palestinians hold their first elections in 15 years on May 22. Mahmoud Abbas and European countries have called on Israel to allow elections and candidate campaigning activities to take place in East Jerusalem, where more than 300,000 Palestinians live.
