Israeli police have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and fired tear gas at Palestinians after Friday prayers. This followed a ceasefire agreement having been reached between Israel and Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera reports that the ceasefire brokered by Egypt had come into effect at around 2am local time on Friday. Gaza had faced 11 days of relentless bombing by Israel with Hamas having launched rockets into Israel. Social media videos shared showed thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank taking to the streets in celebration of the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Middle East Eye reports that Israeli security forces have fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets at worshippers in al-Aqsa Mosque. According to the MME footage released on social media showed Israeli police firing into crowds of Palestinian worshippers shortly after they had assembled for Friday prayers. Tens of thousands of Palestinians celebrated with chants in support of Gaza after the Friday prayers at the mosque on Friday afternoon, and by distributing sweets.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld claimed officers had been the target of Palestinians throwing stones. So called “riot” suppressing measures were then taken. At least 20 Palestinians have been wounded, with two, according to the Red Crescent, needing hospital treatment. Molotov cocktails were also supposedly thrown toward Israeli police.

The fighting was triggered by violent raids on al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli Defence Force during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhaan, and the attempted forced displacement of Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of Jerusalem from their homes. While 12 Israeli’s wee killed, amongst them children, Israel’s bombardment of Gaza killed at least 243 Palestinians, including 66 children. There has also been untold destruction to the infrastructure of the poverty stricken besieged enclave.

Umm Muhammed Umar