Ramadan Incitement at Al Aqsa

 

Palestinians barricaded themselves with huge stones, debris and fireworks in Al Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount last night.  Police negotiated for them to leave, which failed, after which they forcibly removed them - which was videoed and shared as an attack against the mosque throughout Arab media to create incitement. In response short range rockets have been fired 5 times overnight from Gaza against Israeli civilian towns with the IDF bombing 2 sites in Gaza in response.

Dozens of young adults armed with sticks, stones and fireworks, barricaded themselves in the Al Aqsa mosque early in the evening in order to start a violent disturbance. The police tried for hours to convince the young adults to exit the mosque peacefully, but entered forcefully after a continued refusal. 

 Video from the scene published by Palestinian media showed police officers hitting Palestinians in the building with chairs and batons and arresting many of them.

This morning after the dawn prayers at the mosque, scuffles broke out at the complex and in additional locations throughout the Old City.

Overnight at least 10 rockets were fired in 5 salvos, with 1 striking a factory in Sderot.  The latest fired at approx. 7am.

IDF bombed 2 sites in the Gaza Strip in response, claiming them to be weapons manufacturing and storage sites.

Palestinian factions in Gaza fired surface-to-air missiles at the Israeli aircraft carrying out the strikes according to Palestinian reports.

 Hamas has called for escalation and to clash with Israel in Jerusalem. One reason given by the Palestinian spokespeople was “to prevent a Passover sacrifice by the Jews”.  

ANALYSIS:  With constant incitement in all forms, this has the potential to increase in intensity, with possible increase in clashes in Jerusalem and increase in rocket fire.  However initial Hamas statements while inflammatory are considered “relatively moderate” (by those who analyze such things) - so more likely it will continue to simmer but not increase.