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LIVE: Palestinians and Israelis killed, scores injured in clashes over al-Aqsa

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LIVE: Palestinians and Israelis killed, scores injured in clashes over al-Aqsa
Follow the latest updates from Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank

Israel is facing a day of rage over its refusal to remove metal detectors from entrances leading up to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site. 

Here are the latest developments:

  • Three Israeli settlers killed by Palestinian man in Halamisch settlement
  • General strike called by Palestinians in East Jerusalem
  • Three Palestinian teenagers killed by Israeli settlers during clashes in east Jerusalem
  • Metal detectors to stay in place: Israeli Police
  • Clashes began after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli policemen inside Al-Aqsa

MEE's Lubna Masarwa and Jacob Burns are in the Old City area to report on the latest developments.

Live Updates

7 years ago

Religious figures and Palestinian politicians called for resistance on Friday morning to what is widely seen across Palestine as an attempt by Israel to control al-Aqsa.

Ahmed Tibi, a member of the Israeli parliament for the Arab List coalition, said it is the duty of Palestinians in Israe, Jerusalem and the West Bank "to act now in order to protect the Aqsa from the Israeli forces".

Abdala Athem Salhab, the head of the Waqf counsel which administers the Noble Sanctury site, said: "We are all united and its our responsibility to protect the Aqsa mosque - we won't step back. We are asking Jordan to intervene to remove the doors, otherwise Israel is leading the area to religious war."

"Our response to Netanyahu is that we say no to the detectors and we will continue the protest. We hope the Islamic world and the international community take action to stop the violations."

Palestinians wait to pray in the Old City in Jerusalem (MEE/Lubna Masarwa)

7 years ago

Israel has sent thousands of extra police into Jerusalem on Friday after talks to remove Israeli metal detectors from around the Noble Sanctuary compound failed, Palestinian officials were rounded up, and Palestinian religious leaders and politicians called for a "day of rage" and resistance.

Israel's cabinet on Friday morning said the security measures would remain around the site in Jerusalem's Old City, and thousands of extra police were being sent to the area, as Benjamin Netanyahu's government braced for mass protests over Israel's control of Islam's third holiest site, which includes al-Aqsa mosque.

7 years ago

A Palestinian is injured in clashes on the Gaza border (Reuters)

Clashes broke out on the border with Gaza on Friday as Palestinian protests against Israeli control of al-Aqsa spread beyond Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Hamas, which controls Gaza, had called for mass protests in a "day of rage" called by the Fatah movement in the West Bank.

7 years ago

Palestinian leaders have called for a "March of Anger" towards Israeli checkpoints in protest to planned Israeli security measures on the Al-Aqsa compound.

The call comes after violent clashes on Friday which saw three Palestinians killed, and hundreds injured. 

The protest is due to take place at 6 PM where a large group of demonstrators are expected to march towards the Qalandia checkpoint in Ramallah. 

7 years ago

Israeli security forces on Saturday raided the home of the Palestinian attacker who stabbed to death three Israelis and restricted movement for Palestinians from his West Bank village, the military said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said security forces "surveyed the house of the assailant in the village of Khobar, searched for weapons and confiscated money used for terror purposes. The brother of the assailant was also apprehended."

"Movement out of the village will be limited to humanitarian cases only," she said.

7 years ago

Prayer protests in East Jerusalem's Old City continue as dozens of Palestinians prayed outside on the streets leading up to the Al-Aqsa compound.

The Israeli government have refused to back down on metal detectors outside the Al-Aqsa compound, which has been the source of tensions over the last few days. 

Palestinians begin mid-afternoon prayers in the Old City of East Jerusalem (MEE/ Lubna Masarwa)

Women praying mid-afternoon prayers outside the Old City in East Jerusalem (MEE/ Lubna Masarwa)

7 years ago

Roads leading up to the Al-Aqsa mosque continue to remain deserted as shop owners continue with their general strike to mourn the loss of three Palestinians killed in Friday's clashes with Israeli police. 

MEE's Lubna Masarwa who is inside the Old City in East Jerusalem reports:

"The main roads that lead up to Al-Aqsa on a Saturday are usually full of shoppers and tourists, but today it is completely deserted.

The shop owners remain defiant and said that they will continue with their strike to remember the three Palestinians who were killed in yesterday's clashes."

Roads leading up to the Al-Aqsa compound remain deserted (MEE/Lubna Masarwa)

Main road that leads up to the Al-Aqsa compound deserted (MEE/Lubna Masarwa)

7 years ago

MEE's Jacob Burns visited the Al-Makassad hospital after it was raided by Israeli police.

Key points from his latest dispatch:

  • Eyewitnesses claim Israeli Police had beaten up doctors and blocked the entrance to surgical wards. 
  • Israeli police spokesman said: Officers had gone into hospital "to search for suspects directly involved in the riots".
  • Al-Makassad subject to increased security measures, that many Palestinians see as an attempt to control the medical facility.
  • Palestinians hid the body of slain Palestinian protestor to stop Israeli authorities seizing the body. 

Read more here: 

7 years ago

Israel's Channel 10 news outlet reports that the Palestinian who stabbed four Israeli settlers, killing three of them, had acted alone. 

Investigators told the Israeli outlet that the attacker had walked from his village to the Israeli settlement.

The outlet was told that the attacker had chosen houses near the settlement's security fence that had an open-door. 

(Source: @news10/Channel 10) 

7 years ago

Good morning, 

Areeb Ullah from MEE's London office taking over from the US team. We'll be updating you on the latest situation in East Jerusalem and Occupied West Bank until 5 pm BST. 

Here are some of the key updates and developments that have taken place overnight:

  • Three Israelis were stabbed to death by a Palestinian assailant in the West Bank settlement of Halamish.
  • Israeli security forces have commenced security operations in the Palestinian village near Halamish.
  • A general strike has been declared in Silwan, an East Jerusalem neighbourhood near the Old City. 
  • Protestors continue to amass in the Old City in East Jerusalem as protests continue against Israeli security measures to introduce metal detectors on entrances to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. 

MEE's Lubna Masarwa will be on the ground in East Jerusalem and be feeding into the live-blog throughout the day. 

7 years ago

Palestinians in the town of Silwan in East Jerusalem have begun a general strike to mourn the deaths of three Palestinians who were killed during clashes with Israeli police. 

7 years ago

Prayer protests continue inside the Old City of Jerusalem till the metal detectors installed outside the Al-Aqsa compound are removed.

This image was taken by MEE's Jacob Burns outside the Lion's gate which was home to deadly clashes on Friday where Israeli police fired tear-gas and rubber bullets into crowds of peaceful protestors. 

Palestinians praying outside Old City in East Jerusalem on Saturday after heavy Friday clashes (MEE/Jacob Burns)

7 years ago

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he "deeply deplores" the killing of three Palestinians teens as tensions ran high on Friday over Israeli restrictions at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa compound. 

Guterres condemned the killings and called for an immediate investigation early on Saturday into the deaths of the three teenagers killed because of violent clashes with protestors and the Israeli police. 

He also advised Israeli and Palestinian leaders to refrain from actions that could further escalate the unstable situation in East Jerusalem.  

7 years ago

The Israeli family that was stabbed was having Shabbat dinner, according to a Haaretz report.

A 20-year-old Palestinian from Khobar barged into the house, killed three family members and severely wounded a fourth. The three slain were the father, who was in his 60s, as well as his son and daughter who were both in their 40s, according to a Haaretz report. The mother is being treated at Shaare Zedek hosptial in Jerusalem.

7 years ago

Israel arrested 29 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and more than 390 people were injured on Friday, according to a Haaretz report. The Red Crescent said most of the injured Palestinians inhaled tear gas while 38 were hit with live and rubber bullets.