Late Sunday, Israeli forces were extracted from the Damascus Gate area in central Jerusalem after having locked it to Palestinians since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Witnesses expressed that after the Israeli departure, Palestinians detached the iron fences that had limited Palestinian movement in the area.
The Palestinians celebrated the event as “a victory over the Israeli occupiers.”
Israel’s private Channel 12 confirmed that Israeli forces withdrew from the Damascus Gate area after seeing clashes with Palestinians in recent days.
Over an hour later, though, the Israeli army starkly attacked Palestinians exclusive of any prior warning, according to an eyewitness. The eyewitnesses held that the combatants attacked the peaceful protest with tear gas and flashes.
An elderly disabled person was among those who were attacked, and the forces imprisoned at least three people. Some people were injured in the intervention, but they were treated at the scene and not hospitalized.
Since the start of Ramadan, Israeli forces have banned Palestinians from sitting in the Damascus Gate area and holding festive activities. The situation escalated when Israeli settlers launched attacks on Palestinians.
More than 130 Palestinians have been injured in clashes between Israeli forces and local residents in Jerusalem since Thursday, and at least 100 Palestinians have been detained.
Palestinian territories including the West Bank and East Jerusalem have been under Israeli occupation since 1967. The Israeli occupation is considered illegal under international law.
