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GAZA: Israeli police have reportedly stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and fired tear gas at Palestinians after Friday prayers, hours after ceasefire agreement reached between the Israeli government and Hamas, which governs the Gaza strip.
According to some media outlets, the forces launched tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets. Al Jazeera also reported stun grenades being launched at worshipers.
Al Jazeera’s journalist Arwa Ibrahim, in a Tweet, shared footage from the compound, showing worshipers scrambling amid loud explosions in the background. “Back to square one,” she wrote.
The attacks wounded a number of people, but the Palestinian Red Crescent has yet to release figures on how many people were injured.
Palestinians living in the occupied East Jerusalem flocked to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque early Friday and celebrated the cease-fire reached between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian resistance group.
Meanwhile, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said stones were thrown at officers who were at one of the gates on patrol. “Hundreds of people threw rocks and petrol bombs at police officers who responded at the scene and began dispersing the rioters,” Rosenfeld wrote.
“They were singing and chanting when a contingent of the Israeli police [stationed] next to the compound came into the compound and started using crowd control measures that they use all the time, including stun grenades, smoke bombs and tear gas,” Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported.
Ceasefire agreement reached
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into force early on Friday after 11 days of deadly fighting that pounded the Palestinian enclave and forced countless Israelis to seek shelter from rockets.
Celebrations were heard on Gaza streets in the minutes after the truce began as cars honked their horns and some guns were fired in the air, while in the occupied West Bank, joyful crowds also took to the streets.
US President Joe Biden welcomed the deal. “I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress and I’m committed to working toward it,” Biden said at the White House, hailing Egypt’s role in brokering the agreement.
Israeli strikes
Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 232 Palestinians, including 65 children, and have wounded another 1,900. Vast areas have been reduced to rubble and some 120,000 people have been displaced. On the Israeli side, 12 people, including two children, have died.
The violence was triggered after police action at Al-Aqsa mosque during the Ramadan fasting month.