In order to ease the tensions of the past few days, the Israeli police on Sunday evening allowed Palestinians to re-enter a promenade near the Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Several hundred young Palestinians had gathered near one of the main entrances to the Mosque Plaza, when police announced over a megaphone that the area was now open to everyone. The police let demonstrators remove the metal barriers that had blocked access for several days.
The decision is made “After consultations with local officials, religious leaders, and an assessment of the situation, while taking into consideration the traders who need to live, and in order to reduce the level of violence”, said a police spokesperson. “Our forces are still deployed on the ground and we will not allow the return of violence”, he added.
A group of Palestinians celebrating the removal of barriers and waving a Palestinian flag were chased away by police. But the square in front of the Damascus Gate was now accessible, with a strong police presence.
Several days of demonstration
Clashes in the past few days in Jerusalem began after police prevented Palestinians from sitting on the steps surrounding the Damascus Gate, a place where they meet in the evenings during Ramadan. And when far-right Jews planned to protest nearby, many Palestinians saw it as a provocation.
The most violent clashes took place Thursday evening when Palestinians wanted to oppose this march of protesters, who chanted “Death to the Arabs”. Israeli forces blocked the Palestinians, about 100 of whom were injured, as well as about 20 Israeli police.
Palestinian protesters threw stones and water bottles at the police, who responded with stun grenades and water cannons. Dumpsters were also set on fire near the Damascus Gate and, according to police, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Kalandia crossing point, between Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for calm and said: “We maintain freedom of worship as we do every year, for all residents and visitors to Jerusalem. “
Hamas threats
The armed wing of Hamas, the ruling Palestinian Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip, has supported Palestinians in East Jerusalem and threatened Israel.
The IDF announced on Sunday evening that a projectile had been fired “From the Gaza Strip to Israeli territory”, without giving further details. Three rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening. One was intercepted by the Israeli missile shield, another exploded in a vacant lot and the last fell in the Gaza Strip, the army said at the time.