Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Police raid Al-Aqsa amid Gaza protests July 27 /update 1

Event

Israeli security forces reopened the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and allowed prayers to resume within it on Friday, July 27, following an earlier Israeli police raid which resulted in the mosque's closure and the arrests of 24 people. According to local sources, stun grenades thrown by security forces also wounded dozens of people. The raid reportedly came after protesters launched rocks and firecrackers at Israeli authorities and then barricaded themselves in the mosque.

The incident also comes amid continued protests at the Israel-Gaza border and clashes between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and Palestinian protesters on Friday. IDF personnel killed at least two Palestinians in the demonstrations and wounded some 264 others, including 90 by live fire. Some 7000 Palestinians participated in the protests, with some throwing rocks, burning tires, and launching tear gas at IDF troops. Palestinian protesters also reportedly launched incendiary devices at Israel, causing fires to ignite in the Eshkol regional council. Israeli forces fired a tank on a suspected Hamas position and launched an airstrike on Palestinians suspected of launching incendiary devices; no resultant casualties were immediately reported. Additional clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters are possible along the Israel-Gaza border in the near-term.

Context

A spike in tensions and cross-border incidents has been observed in Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the wake of US President Donald Trump's December 2017 announcement that the US would officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital - a departure from the previous US and international position of neutrality on the status of the city claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians - and would move the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The new embassy was officially opened on May 14.

Advice

Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to avoid all protests or other public gatherings due to the high risk of violence and to monitor developments to the situation. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.