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Dozens injured in East Jerusalem clashes East Jerusalem clashes leave over 100 injured
(about 5 hours later)
Tensions in Jerusalem have been rising for several daysTensions in Jerusalem have been rising for several days
Dozens of people have been injured in violent clashes in East Jerusalem between far-right Jewish activists, Palestinians and Israeli police. Scores of people have been injured in clashes in East Jerusalem between far-right Jewish activists, Palestinians and Israeli police.
Hundreds of ultranationalist Jews shouting "Death to Arabs" confronted Palestinian demonstrators at the city's Damascus Gate late on Thursday. The violence erupted as police tried to keep Palestinians and ultra-nationalist Jewish protesters apart.
The police, who were trying to keep the two groups apart, used stun grenades and tear gas against the protesters, some of whom threw stones and bottles. It follows nights of confrontations in the Israeli-occupied sector amid rising nationalist and religious tensions.
A number of people were arrested. East Jerusalem has long been a flashpoint, with an uneasy coexistence there between Jews and Arabs.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 100 Palestinians were injured, including 21 who needed hospital treatment. Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war and considers the entire city its capital, though this is not recognised by the vast majority of the international community. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the future capital of a hoped-for independent state.
Police tried to keep the rival groups apart, detaining a number of protestersPolice tried to keep the rival groups apart, detaining a number of protesters
Tensions have been rising for several days. The worst fighting in days broke out on Thursday night after hundreds of Jewish extremists from the ultra-nationalist Lehava group marched towards the Damascus Gate entrance of Jerusalem's Old City - where large numbers of Palestinians had gathered - chanting "Death to Arabs".
On Thursday, Palestinians accused the police of trying to prevent them from holding their usual Ramadan evening gatherings outside Damascus Gate, an historic landmark of Jerusalem's walled Old City. Stones and bottles were thrown between the two sides, and police used stun grenades, tear gas and water cannon to try to disperse the crowds.
The police warned they would "act firmly against violence and riots of all kinds", a police spokesman was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. The Palestinian Red Crescent said at least 100 Palestinians were injured, while police said 20 officers were hurt. More than 50 people were arrested.
The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. Tensions in East Jerusalem have escalated since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on 13 April. Palestinians have clashed with police, accusing them of erecting barriers to stop them from congregating on steps outside Damascus Gate to break the daytime fast. Police say the measures are intended to help pedestrian flow into the Old City.
The city is home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem. Jews have also been angered by a spate of TikTok videos showing Palestinians assaulting members of the ultra-Orthodox community, including an attack on two ultra-Orthodox boys on Jerusalem's light rail. The videos were given as a reason by Lehava for its march to Damascus Gate, in what it said would be a show of "national honour".
Israel occupied the sector, previously occupied by Jordan, in the 1967 Middle East war and regards the entire city as its indivisible capital. There have also been a number of attacks by Jews on Arabs in Jerusalem this week, including an incident where Jewish youth chanting anti-Arab slogans assaulted an Arab driver who stopped to remonstrate with them.
The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and its final status is meant to be the subject of future negotiations.
Why the ancient city of Jerusalem is so importantWhy the ancient city of Jerusalem is so important