List of clashes that have occurred in the Al-Aqsa mosque
Al-Aqsa has been the site of frequent clashes between Palestinian Arab visitors and both Israeli security forces and Israeli groups, beginning with the 1990 Temple Mount killings, or Al-Aqsa Massacre, and most recently culminating in the 2023 Al-Aqsa clashes.
The 2009 Al-Aqsa clashes started followed rising tensions beginning on 2 August with the forcible evictions of nine Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah. During Ramadan Palestinian access to Al Aqsa Mosque was increasingly restricted. During the last week of Ramadan ending on 19 September, Palestinians from the rest of the West Bank were barred from entry into East Jerusalem for the Jewish New Year.[8]
The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf called on Muslims to pray outside the Temple Mount, and not enter the mosque complex until the metal detectors were removed.[13]
On 25 July the Israeli Cabinet voted to remove the metal detectors and replace them with other surveillance measures.[14] Nevertheless, Palestinian activists decided to continue protesting, claiming those cameras represent a greater degree of control than the metal detectors.[15] On 27 July, Israel removed the new security measures from the Mount, which led to the Waqf telling Muslims they could return to pray inside the compound.[16] 113 Palestinians were reportedly injured in clashes with police after thousands of Muslims returned to pray at Temple Mount.[17]
Within an 11-day period, eleven people had died due to the crisis.[18]
In April 2021, during both Passover and Ramadan, the site was a focus of tension between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. Jewish settlers broke an agreement between Israel and Jordan and performed prayers and read from the Torah inside the compound, an area normally off limits to non-Muslims.[19] On 14 April, Israeli police entered the area and forcibly cut wires to speakers in minarets around the mosque, silencing the call to prayer, claiming the sound was interfering with an event by the Israeli president at the Western Wall.[20] On 16 April, seventy thousand Muslims prayed in the compound around the mosque, the largest gathering since the beginning of the COVID pandemic; police barred most from entering the structure itself.[21] In May 2021, hundreds of Palestinians were injured following clashes in the compound after reports of Israel's intention to proceed to evict Palestinians from land claimed by Israeli settlers.[22][23]
The 2022 Al-Aqsa Mosque storming occurred on 15 April 2022, when Israeli forces entered the Temple Mount and used tear gas shells and sound bombs to disperse Palestinians who, they said, were throwing stones at policemen. Some Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa mosque, where they were detained by Israeli police. Over 150 people ended up injured and 400 arrested.[24][25][26]
The 2023 Al-Aqsa clashes were a series of violent confrontations that occurred between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compoundinJerusalem in April 2023. After the evening Ramadan prayer, Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the mosque, prompted by reports that Jews planned to sacrifice a goat at the site (which is forbidden by Israeli law). In response, Israeli police raided the mosque in riot gear, injuring 50 people.[27]
^"All accounts originally reported anywhere between 19 and 21 deaths. At a 15 October press conference, however, the Jerusalem-based Palestine Human Rights Information Center (PHRIC) lowered the death count to 17, and other organizations and reports followed. Of the deaths initially reported, one had died of a heart attack, two thought to have died were only injured and survived, and one had been shot by an Israeli civilian in another section of Jerusalem (and later died)"[5]
^Fabrico, Roberto (2 December 1990). "A City Divided: Jerusalemites once again have fallen victim to religious hatred and strife". Sun Sentinel. Sun-Sentinel.com.
^United Nations Commission of Human Rights (4 April 2001). "Summary Record of the 19th Meeting"(PDF). Fifty-seventh session. United Nations. Retrieved 2011-05-17.