Israeli forces storm Al-Aqsa, arrest over 300 as clashes resume with Hamas
Violent clashes at the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa compound led to heavy rocket fire overnight from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli localities.
Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on early Wednesday, arresting at least 300 Palestinians at the height of Ramadan as cross-border fire resumed between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Videos circulating online showed clashes inside Al-Aqsa, the third holiest site in Islam, with Israeli forces using batons, rubber bullets and smashing chairs as they worked to evacuate the mosque.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed "Muslim extremists" for the clashes Wednesday. He tweeted, "Muslim worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque testify that the Muslim extremists who barricaded themselves in the mosque imprisoned them there and prevented other Muslims from coming to the mosque to pray."
Israeli reports said the clashes happened after a group of people inside the mosque barricaded themselves at the Temple Mount compound in response to calls by Hamas to prevent Jews from ascending the Temple Mount and offering a Passover sacrifice there. The Passover holiday starts on Wednesday. The Jerusalem Red Cross reported that 19 people were injured in the clashes.
