Israeli Police Kill 17 Palestinians at Temple Mount
Deadly clashes erupt at Jerusalem's holy site as Israeli police open fire on Palestinian stone-throwers, sparking international condemnation.
Israeli police opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound today, killing at least 17 Palestinians and wounding over 150 in the deadliest single incident since the Intifada began nearly three years ago.
The violence erupted when thousands of Palestinians gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, responding to calls to defend the holy site against a planned march by the extremist Jewish Temple Mount Faithful group. When the Jewish group was barred from entering, Palestinians began throwing stones at Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall below.
Israeli police stationed on the Temple Mount responded with tear gas and live ammunition, triggering a stampede as Palestinians fled the gunfire. Many victims were shot while trying to escape, according to eyewitnesses.
The killings have sent shockwaves across the occupied territories, with general strikes and violent protests erupting in Gaza, the West Bank, and Arab areas of Israel. The UN Security Council is convening an emergency session to address the crisis.
Israeli authorities claim police acted in self-defense against a violent mob, but Palestinian witnesses describe the response as a massacre. The incident has further inflamed tensions during the ongoing Intifada and complicated US efforts to arrange Israeli-Palestinian talks.
Muslim nations have condemned the killings as a desecration of Islam’s third-holiest site, while human rights organizations are calling for an international investigation into the use of lethal force against demonstrators.