April 7, 2023
Cited article by Richard Allen Greene, Hadas Gold, Tamara Qiblawi and Mia Alberti, CNN
HRRC condemns the excessive force used by Israeli police in the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Further, we condemn the subsequent air strikes from all parties in Israel, Lebanon, and Palestine. Civilians must be protected and their rights respected.
Article Summary
On April 6th, 34 rockets were fired into Israeli territory from Lebanon and Gaza City, Palestine. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted the rockets and returned fire on Lebanon and Gaza City. IDF claimed it targeted Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists in the region who they believed responsible for the air strikes, although no one has claimed responsibility. The exchange of fire was in response to Israel's raid on the al-Aqsa mosque on Wednesday, April 5th.
Israeli police forcefully entered the al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, using stun grenades and rubber bullets while also beating people with batons. Police arrested 350 worshipers, tying their legs and arms behind their backs. Israel's excessive force drew condemnation from across the Arab and Muslim world. In a statement, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said, “What is happening in Jerusalem is a major crime against worshipers" and that Israel's refusal to learn from history by storming al-Aqsa has "sparked a revolution against the occupation.”