Israeli troops attack Palestinian sit-inners in al-Quds

Rasa - Israeli forces have attacked Palestinians staging a sit-in outside the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem al-Quds in protest at Tel Aviv’s recent restrictive measures around the holy Muslim site.

News ID: 431098

Date: 18 July 2017 - 22:21

RNA - According to Quds News Network, the Israeli troops on Tuesday clashed with the sit-inners outside the Lions Gate, a main entrance to the compound in the Old City of al-Quds, for the third consecutive day after Tel Aviv implemented new measures that ban worshipers from performing their prayers freely in the mosque.

Israeli forces on Sunday reopened the compound, which includes the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, two days after they closed it following a deadly shooting in the area.

Muslims, however, refused to enter the site in protest at the newly-imposed security measures, including the installation of metal detectors and cameras. Dozens of worshipers held prayers outside the compound.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Tuesday condemned the Israeli measures, warning against their repercussions.

While Palestinians cannot enter the mosque freely, about 155 Israeli settlers, guarded by regime forces, stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tuesday.

The occupied lands have witnessed tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into al-Aqsa Mosque compound two years ago.

The Tel Aviv regime has been trying to change the demographic makeup of Jerusalem al-Quds by constructing settlements, destroying historical sites and expelling the local population.

More than 300 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since October 2015, when the tensions intensified.

Tel Aviv has come under fire for using violence against Palestinians and adopting a policy of shoot-to-kill.

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