Clashes at Al-Aqsa Mosque Between Worshippers and Israeli Security Forces

The director of Al-Aqsa Mosque stated on Sunday that Israeli forces stormed the mosque after the dawn prayer, firing sound grenades and rubber bullets at the worshippers. Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani told Reuters, "Israeli forces are still besieging dozens of worshippers inside the Qibli Mosque after closing all the gates of the mosque with chains." Regarding the presence of injuries in the mosque's courtyards, al-Kiswani said, "So far we have not counted the number of injured and ambulances have been expelled from the mosque's grounds." He added, "Four groups each consisting of forty extremists stormed the mosque under police and special forces protection, and the number of police exceeds the number of worshippers, guards, and staff present to protect the extremists." Foreigners, including some Jewish extremists, enter the grounds of Al-Aqsa Mosque under Israeli protection as part of the so-called tourism program during specific times during the day. The storming comes in response to calls from national and Islamic forces to be present at the mosque in reaction to Israeli calls for incursions as part of what is referred to as "the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple." Israeli police have been deployed since the evening at the entrances to the Old City, setting up checkpoints and checking the identification of passersby. No statement has yet been issued by the Israeli police regarding the ongoing events at Al-Aqsa Mosque.