Update: Israel has declared a state of emergency, the BBC reports. Six Israelis are also reported to have sadly died in the midst of the violent clashes.
Tensions between Palestine and Israel have been rife for decades, but over the course of the last several days, conflict has escalated. In response to threats of Palestinian home evictions and an Israeli attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, during the holy month of Ramadan, 21 Palestinians have been killed and over 200 have been left injured, with a further 88 taken to hospital, mostly caused by rubber bullets, grenades and beatings by the Israeli police.
The violence coincides with, and has possibly been ‘timed’ for Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival celebrating the end of Ramadan, the period of daily fasting. Traditionally, the Eid celebrations are spent with family and friends, enjoying favourite food dishes such as sheer khuma, cambaabur, and maamoul.
What’s happening in Jerusalem and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque?
In 1948, the United Nations declared the city of Jerusalem a ‘corpus separatum’, meaning that West Jerusalem would be Israeli territory, while East Jerusalem would be the Palestinian, Jordanian sector. The Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam, is situated in East Jerusalem, meaning that under international law, it belongs to Palestinians.
For three consecutive nights, Israeli forces have attempted to stop Palestinians travelling into the Old City (where the mosque is), during Ramadan. On the evening of ‘Laylat al-Qadr’, the Night of Power, 90,000 Muslims gathered at the mosque for evening prayers.
Prayer was interrupted by the Israeli police who stormed the mosque and the Haram al-Sharif compound, where they used teargas and stun grenades on worshippers. Three people were reported to have lost their eyes, while hundreds, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, were injured.
What has provoked these attacks?
The attacks against Palestinians and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are partly a result of protests across the state, particularly in Sheikh Jarrah, where dozens of Palestinians clashed with Israeli settlers who were attempting to evict them from their homes. One protester was reported to have said, “If they evacuate them [Palestinians], there will be war”.
Protests against Israeli forces are spreading to other neighbourhoods too. In Haifa, 15 people were arrested, and protests in Nazareth, Kafr, Kana, and Shfram, have led to road blockages and car tyres being set alight.
Global solidarity for Palestine
Muslim and non-Muslim communities around the world have condemned Israel’s actions. Saudi Arabia released a Foreign Ministry statement yesterday (Tuesday 11 May), “urging the international community to hold Israel accountable” (Arab News).
In London, demonstrations were held in a display of solidarity for Palestinian worshippers. In a statement from one of the march organisers, they said:
“We stand here today knowing full well that the occupiers are transgressing against the rights of the Palestinians. What is happening in Palestine today, what is happening in Jerusalem today, is the continuation of illegal occupation. It is the continuation of the illegal theft of land that began in 1948,”
Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister’s reaction was also captured:
“Jerusalem is Israel’s capital and just as every nation builds in its capital and builds up its capital, we also have the right to build in Jerusalem and to build up Jerusalem. That is what we have done and that is what we will continue to do.”
Politically, Jerusalem is not recognised by the global sphere as Israel’s capital. Disputes are historic and date back decades between Israelis and Palestinians.
Palestinian retaliation
More clashes are expected in the coming days; in Gaza, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, launched rockets into Israel, after giving an ultimatum for Israel to withdraw their security forces from the area of Jerusalem that situates the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In retaliation to Hamas’ violence, Israel fired rockets into East Jerusalem.
Tonight and tomorrow, Muslims across the world will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr, albeit in an alternative way due to covid restrictions. This year though, those who should be celebrating in Palestine have other things on their minds. In light of the attacks, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, cancelled celebrations for Eid al-Fitr; instead, he and many others will mourn those killed on the Gaza Strip.
