For the 2nd time this Ramadan, Israeli police forced Muslim worshipers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque to leave after clashes broke out at dawn Sunday. Palestinian worshipers were on an Islamic Itikaf retreat at the holy site.
While police forces sought dislodging worshipers, twelve seniors, according to Palestinian officials, were injured. In total 50 worshipers were present at that time.
لليوم الثاني على التوالي .. قوات الاحتلال تقتحم #المسجد_الأقصى المبارك وتشرع بإجلاء المعتكفين منه. pic.twitter.com/EQTsjeraPF
— Quds TV – قناة القدس (@QdsTvSat) May 12, 2019
According to local sources, a large number of police forces stormed the mosque following the Isha and Tarawih prayers and forced worshipers to leave the site.
Coinciding with Ramadan, some of the removed worshipers had religious permits to spend the special month’s nights performing Itikaf, the practice of staying multiple nights at a time in a mosque.
Israeli authorities issued a decision to ban Itikaf in Al-Aqsa except on Friday nights and on Laylat al-Qadr. The move was met with contempt by Muslim congregations, especially those who are eager to observe Ramadan through the practice.
