From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 25, 2014
Police on high alert in Jerusalem ahead of Friday prayers
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleIsraeli security forces are on heightened alert Friday after two Palestinian man were shot dead during a huge protest in the West Bank against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.
Palestinian factions in the West Bank declared a “Day of Rage” after the Thursday night clashes, which took place throughout the West Bank and in some sectors of Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem.
Police say that, due to fears of violent protest over the deadly Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip, they will bar men under the age of 50 from Jerusalem’s flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque for what are usually packed prayers on the last Friday of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Extra police units in old city, Jerusalem to prevent incidents today. Age limit implemented on Temple Mount. Men over age 50 permitted.
— Micky Rosenfeld (@MickyRosenfeld) July 25, 2014
“Different units have been mobilized in and around the Old City” of Jerusalem, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tells AFP on Friday.
“We’re prepared to deal with any disturbances.”
Palestinian security and medical officials named one of the slain men as Mohammed al-Aaraj, 25, and said he was among at least 10,000 people who clashed with soldiers and Border Police in Qalandiya, between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
They said 150 people were wounded by Israeli fire, with five of them in critical condition.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appealed for blood donors.
The army tells AFP that live fire was used in a confrontation with the protesters after some threw rocks, firecrackers and petrol bombs at soldiers and Border Police.
The fighting ended in the early hours of Friday, an army spokeswoman says.
Israeli public radio said Palestinians and troops also clashed in the areas of the West Bank cities of Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem and Tulkarem.
The confrontations came on Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Destiny, when Muslims pray through the night as Ramadan nears its end.
Large numbers of police were deployed throughout Jerusalem Thursday night. The police said two officers were injured by stone-throwers near the al-Aqsa mosque.
Police say that 39 protesters were arrested in various violent disturbances in Palestinian areas of the city. At least 27 police officers were slightly injured in the clashes.
— AFP
The Times of Israel Community.