JERUSALEM, May 9 (NNN-XINHUA) – At least 64 more Palestinians were injured, in demonstrations and violent clashes with Israeli police forces near Damascus Gate, in East Jerusalem last night, local media reported.
According to Israel’s state-owned Kan News, the Israeli police dispersed the demonstrators with stun grenades, water cannon vehicles, mounted officers, and other means.
Clashes erupted after praying of Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night in the Muslim month of Ramadan. The praying took place at Al-Aqsa Mosque and was attended by about 80,000 worshippers.
Israeli police said it was forced to operate after Palestinians who gathered near the Old City’s Damascus Gate began throwing stones, bottles, fireworks, and explosives at police officers.
On Friday night, 205 Palestinians and 17 Israeli police officers were injured in clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound.
The violent clashes in East Jerusalem came, as a result of a ruling that forced Palestinians to leave their homes, on land claimed by Jewish settlers.
Earlier this year, an Israeli district court gave the ruling that several Palestinian homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood legally belonged to Jewish families, triggering protests and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police.– NNN-XINHUA
