Muezzin of Al Aqsa prevented entry, no call to prayer, minaret damaged, power cut

Maisa Abu Ghazaleh

October 25, 2009

Jerusalem / PNN – A state of tension and anticipation remains in the lanes of Jerusalem’s Old City Sunday evening.

Israeli police and special forces have stormed Al Aqsa Mosque twice today, closed the gates and prevented people from performing the noon, afternoon and evening prayers.

The assault is occurring both outside and inside the Mosque and its grounds.

The number of injuries, aside from the cases of gas inhalation and bruising from mild beatings, is 25 Palestinians. They are journalists, medics, officials and citizens.

Palestine News Network’s Jerusalem correspondent Maisa Abu Ghazaleh was among the journalists who were beaten by Israeli forces. Diyala Jowayhan of Al Rai, journalist and photographer Atta Aoissat, Al Quds reporter Mahmoud Alian and a photographer from Reuters were all beaten, along with other journalists, by the Israelis.

Hatem Abdel Qader, the Palestinian official from Fateh in charge of the Jerusalem file, was arrested. Ali Abu Sheikha, adviser to the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line was also arrested, as was Mahmoud Abu Atta, the media coordinator of the Al Aqsa Foundation to Preserve Islamic Heritage. Jadallah Ghould of the Awqaf, official Ali Bakir, and Sheikh Yousef Al Baz were also taken.

Outside Al Aqsa the gates of the Mosque, among them Bab Hatta, have witnessed gas canisters and concussion grenades thrown at crowds of children and youth who threw stones and tires at Israeli forces.

The Israeli police prevented members of the Awaqf from entering Al Aqsa to do their work. Sheikh Sa’ed Abbasi, the Muezzin of Al Aqsa, told PNN, "I am now forbidden entry despite the fact that most of the police stationed at the gates know me."

During the day’s second storming of the Mosque, hundreds of special forces stormed Al Aqsa from the Moroccan Gate and hurled stun grenades and gas while firing rubber-coated steel bullets at those who came to make a presence in nonviolent protest of the day’s first attack on the Mosque.

Inside, the power was cut earlier today to Al Aqsa and surrounding mosques and in order to fully prevent the call for afternoon prayer from sounding, Israeli troops stormed the door of the minaret and damaged power lines.

Medic Nasser Jamjoom of the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees said that the number of injuries today reached 25 who had been treated within the Mosque after the closing of the doors. He described wounds as ranging from fractures to burns and bruises. The medic said that police deliberately broke a woman’s leg.

For his part, Dimitri Diliani member of the Revolutionary Council of Fateh, said that the threat to Al Aqsa Mosque will remain as long as the occupation does. He said that the Israeli government is exploiting the internal strife between Palestinian parties and is undertaking systematic attacks that negatively affect the national and religious rights of Palestinians and Muslims.

In turn, the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights issued a statement condemning Israeli forces for beating and detaining paramedic crews and press photographers in the courtyards of Al Aqsa, in spite of clear signs that they were engaged in work.

Attacking medical personnel and press crews is a serious and flagrant violation of international covenants and conventions, the Center for Social and Economic Rights said today. It is demanding legal accountability from police who were involved in the attacks, violent beatings and arrests.

The statement emphasized that the policy of Israeli forces is to first treat peaceful protest violently instead of ordering the Jewish extremists who are attempting to storm the Mosque to cease.