Israel: Protestor dies from injuries; men under 50 banned from al-Aqsa July 28 /update 15

Event

On Thursday, July 27, a Palestinian man died from injuries incurred in clashes with security forces at a protest near Jerusalem on Monday, July 24, over security restrictions at Temple Mount (Haram Al-Sharif) after a fatal July 14 attack.

Additionally, the Israeli government announced that, for the second week in a row, men under 50 would be barred from entering the holy site on Friday - a day thousands of Muslims typically flock there to pray.

This comes after roughly 100 Palestinians were reportedly injured in clashes with Israeli security forces after worshippers reentered Temple Mount (Haram Al-Sharif) on Thursday, July 27, following the Israeli government's decision to remove recently-installed security cameras. Security forces reportedly fired tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets at the crowd, and some reports indicate demonstrators threw rocks at security personnel. Further demonstrations with the potential to turn violent remain possible in the coming hours and days; remain vigilant.

Context

Tensions are running high following one of the most serious incidents in Jerusalem in recent years. Temple Mount (Haram Al-Sharif) was shut down for the first time in 48 years on July 14, after three Arab-Israeli gunmen attacked a group of police officers near the Lions' Gate in Jerusalem's Old City, killing two; the attackers were shot and killed at the scene. The site was reopened the following day after increased security measures were implemented by Israeli authorities. Enraged by the new security measures, Palestinians began a series of protests, often turning violent, and the political party Fatah called for a "day of rage." Three Israelis were also stabbed to death in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank on July 21 by a Palestinian national who had evaded checkpoints. Despite the fact that the Israeli government dismantled the security measures, including security cameras and metal detectors, protests have continued. After a total of 12 days of protests, over 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly been injured and five Palestinians have died in ongoing protests and clashes.

Longstanding political and social tensions between Israelis and Palestinians contribute to frequent security incidents of varying severity. At least 260 Palestinians and one Jordanian citizen have been killed since a wave of violent Palestinian street attacks began in 2015. Israel claims at least 177 of those killed were carrying out attacks, while the rest died in clashes and protests. In addition to these deaths, 40 Israelis, two US tourists, and one British student have been killed in Palestinian stabbings, shootings, and car-rammings. 

Advice

Individuals in Jerusalem are advised to monitor the situation and avoid all public demonstrations due to the risk of violence.

More generally due to the ongoing terrorist threat, travelers are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Lebanese, Syrian, and Egyptian borders.