Israeli police block hundreds from Al-Aqsa on Ramadan’s first night, hit worshipers with batons

The first evening prayer of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sunday 10 March 2024

Nir Hasson reports in Haaretz on 11 March 2024:

Police officers prevented hundreds of young Palestinians from entering Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first prayer of the Ramadan holiday on Sunday, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promises that there would be no restrictions. At several points, scuffles involving dozens of people broke out at the entrance, and police officers used batons on the crowd.

Nonetheless, some young worshipers were able to enter the mosque because they were with their parents or located in spots where the police removed the barriers because of the crowd pressure at the entrances, letting everyone enter without being checked. The police issued dozens of restraining orders against Palestinian activists and journalists over the past few days, barring them from the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound.

Thousands of worshipers were ultimately able to pray. The number of worshipers is expected to soar in the coming days. Starting Monday evening, worshipers from towns in the Little Triangle area and the Galilee are set to arrive in organized rides. Tens of thousands are expected to attend prayers at the mosque on Friday.

In response to a Haaretz report that police officers had beaten worshipers with batons, Hadash-Ta’al lawmaker Ahmed Tibi said, “We warned about this. That is how the clash will begin, through violent provocations by the Jerusalem Police. So expected [and] so evil.”

The Abraham Initiatives, a non-profit that bills itself as “build[ing] a shared society for Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens,” said, “The footage of police officers beating worshipers with batons is shameful and intolerable.” It called on Netanyahu “to act urgently to implement his decision and not let [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir use the police to incite.” It added, “Netanyahu should maintain order and calm at Al-Aqsa Mosque and allow freedom of worship for Israel’s Muslim citizens.”

The police said in response to a request for comment that they were “actively facilitating the freedom of worship on the Temple Mount, ensuring a balance between security needs and public safety, in accordance with national directives. Thousands of worshippers, both men and women, young and old, entered the Temple Mount [on Sunday evening] for the first evening prayer of the month of Ramadan.”

Israel Police added: “Simultaneously, enhanced security screenings are being conducted in the vicinity to address existing threats, detect irregularities, and preempt potential provocations or disruptions. These measures are implemented with the aim of upholding public tranquility, safeguarding security, and ensuring the orderly observance of Ramadan prayers.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Monday restrictions imposed by Israel on Muslim worshippers’ access to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound during the Muslim fasting month was pushing the situation towards an “explosion”.

In remarks on state media, Safadi said his country rejected Israel’s announced move to limit access to the holy site during Ramadan, citing security needs with war raging in Gaza.

Jordan echoes the Palestinian view that such restrictions were an attack on freedom of worship, he said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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