Palestine-Israel conflict: Violence again erupts in Jerusalem

As Palestinian worshipers surrounded the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and Israeli police used force to disperse them, violence broke out in the city for a second night in a row. Compared to the previous night, the turmoil was less severe. But as Jews began the seven-day Passover holiday and Muslims observed the holy month of Ramadan, the situation remained explosive. Fears of a larger conflict were sparked by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip resuming their rocket attacks towards Israel. At least six individuals were hurt in the most recent incident, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Police used shock grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the masses, according to the Islamic Waqf officials, who oversaw the site. According to the Israeli police, “dozens of law-breaking juveniles” caused mayhem by pelting police with rocks and other objects, forcing them to take action to restore “security, law, and order.” Additional Palestinians had come inside the mosque in response to the Waqf’s requests that they worship there all night. Police officers were seen leading dozens of Palestinians out of the complex at one of the mosque gates. Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque early on Wednesday, firing stun grenades at Palestinians who threw stones and fireworks in a violent outburst during a delicate holiday season. Israeli airstrikes were repeatedly launched after Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired rockets at southern Israel in response. By early Wednesday morning, the fighting had subsided, but that evening Palestinian terrorists fired two additional rockets from Gaza, one of which missed its target and fell within Gaza and the other of which landed close to the border fence dividing Gaza from Israel, according to the israeli military. There were no casualty reports.