Photo story: Clashes continue in Jerusalem as Israel-Palestine tensions soar

SUMMARY

The latest in a series of confrontations between Israel and Palestine, including at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, is pushing the contested city to the brink.

By APAPMay 11, 2021 12:45:01 PM IST (Updated)

Israeli police have been clashing with Palestinian protesters almost nightly in the holy city's worst religious unrest in several years.

The latest in a series of confrontations is pushing the contested city to the brink of eruption.

Palestinians protested over Israel's threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in east Jerusalem, who have been embroiled in a long legal battle with Israeli settlers trying to acquire property in the neighbourhood.

Israeli police on Saturday clashed with Palestinian protesters outside Jerusalem's Old City during the holiest night of Ramadan, in a show of force that threatened to deepen the holy city's worst religious unrest in several years. Pictured here: Palestinians run from stun grenades fired by Israeli police officers during clashes at Damascus Gate just outside Jerusalem's Old City.

The rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes continued late into the night, with Palestinians reporting loud explosions close to Gaza City and across the coastal strip. Israel's military said Palestinian militants had fired around 150 rockets into Israel, of which dozens were intercepted by its missile defence systems. Pictured here: Streaks of light are seen as Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel. (Image & Text: Reuters)

The upsurge in violence came as Israel celebrated "Jerusalem Day", marking its capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Pictured here: Flames and smoke rise during Israeli airstrikes amid a flare-up of Israel-Palestinian violence, in the southern Gaza Strip. (Image& Text : Reuters)

Israel views Jerusalem as its “unified, eternal” capital. It had captured east Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the West Bank and Gaza. Palestinians want those territories for their future state, with East Jerusalem serving as their eventual capital. But Israel annexed the eastern part of the city in a move not recognized internationally. Pictured here: Family and friends of Yehuda Guetta carry his covered body during his funeral service in Jerusalem. Guetta, 19, wounded in a drive-by shooting attack in the West Bank early this week died from his injuries.

Palestinian medics said at least 180 Palestinians were hurt in the violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, including 80 who were hospitalized.

Tension had been building for weeks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters prompting international concern that events could spiral out of control. Pictured here: Family and friends of Yehuda Guetta carry his covered body during his funeral service in Jerusalem. Guetta, 19, wounded in a drive-by shooting attack in the West Bank early this week died from his injuries. Pictured here: Worshippers chant slogans and wave Hamas flags during a protest against the likely evictions of Palestinian families from the homes, after the last Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem.