PALESTINE EMERGNCY RELIEF

Israeli forces reportedly entered the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday night, where hundreds of Palestinian worshippers were peacefully observing the holy month of Ramadan. According to reports, heavily armed officers used force to remove those who had remained on site after the Taraweeh night prayer. This included firing tear gas and stun grenades into the Qibli prayer hall, where men, women, elderly people, and children were staying overnight to pray. Videos from inside the mosque showed Israeli officers beating people repeatedly with batons while they appeared to lie on the floor, while women and children cried out for help in the background.

Israeli police have claimed that they arrested dozens of "rioters" from al-Aqsa Mosque to restore order. However, Palestinian groups have accused Israeli authorities of infringing on their freedom of religious practice, saying that they have been removing worshippers from al-Aqsa Mosque every night since the start of Ramadan. Israeli forces have also been restricting who can enter the site and when, including those who wish to practise Itikaf, a non-mandatory religious practice during Ramadan whereby worshippers stay at mosques overnight to pray, reflect and recite the Quran. Palestinians have refused to comply with Israeli authorities' ban on Itikaf at Al-Aqsa Mosque outside of the last ten days of Ramadan.

Temple Movement groups, which facilitate settler incursions and advocate for the destruction of Al-Aqsa, have called for mass stormings throughout the week-long Passover holiday, which began on Wednesday. They have also called for conducting ritual animal slaughter at the site, which could trigger anger from Palestinians and Muslims worldwide. Palestinian groups have urged mass presence at the site this week to prevent the planned animal slaughter and mass incursions.

It is important to note that Al-Aqsa Mosque is an Islamic site where unsolicited visits, prayers, and rituals by non-Muslims are forbidden according to decades-long international agreements. However, Israeli groups, in coordination with authorities, have long violated the delicate arrangement and facilitated raids of the site and performed prayers and religious rituals.

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The Al-Aqsa Medical Clinic that serves around 100-200 people daily has been destroyed! HCI works very closely with this clinic to assist people in Palestine. Help us rebuild and revive it so that we can continue to provide medical aid for the people of Palestine. New medical equipment and supplies are urgently needed!