The killing of a Palestinian man by Israeli police at the entrance of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has raised fears of further violence in the area. The man, identified as 26-year-old Mohammad Khaled al-Osaibi, was shot at least 10 times by police after an altercation in which he allegedly tried to prevent them from harassing a woman who was on her way to the holy site. The police have claimed that al-Osaibi tried to take a gun from an officer and fired it during the scuffle. The incident took place near the Chain Gate, which is an access point to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.
The area has seen a significant increase in police presence as tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers gather for Ramadan prayers at the site. The forced eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, as well as the Israeli police’s raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, sparked protests across the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel in 2021. The situation escalated into an 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with both sides exchanging rockets and airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of over 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
The reported use of force by Israeli police to remove Palestinian vendors and worshippers from the area following the incident has raised concerns about the escalation of tensions and potential for further violence. The closure of the site by Israeli police also highlights the ongoing Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem and the restrictions imposed on Palestinian access to their holy sites. The situation remains tense as thousands of Muslim worshippers continue to gather for Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and any further violence could have serious implications for the region.
