Jewish Settlers Threaten to Storm into Aqsa Mosque Sunday

Israeli policemen beat AFP photographer Ahmad Gharabli while covering clashes between worshipers and security forces in Al-Aqsa Mosque (AFP)
Israeli policemen beat AFP photographer Ahmad Gharabli while covering clashes between worshipers and security forces in Al-Aqsa Mosque (AFP)
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Jewish Settlers Threaten to Storm into Aqsa Mosque Sunday

Israeli policemen beat AFP photographer Ahmad Gharabli while covering clashes between worshipers and security forces in Al-Aqsa Mosque (AFP)
Israeli policemen beat AFP photographer Ahmad Gharabli while covering clashes between worshipers and security forces in Al-Aqsa Mosque (AFP)

Activists in Jerusalem called upon Palestinians to gather in the al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday and protect it from the expected storming of extremist settlers.

A number of officials and authorities have also joined the calls, asking for protecting the Mosque from any possible incursions.

A group of Jewish extremists has reportedly called for the massive storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday.

"On Sunday morning at 7:00, we will know if we have lost the war," said Assaf Farid, spokesman for the Federation of Temple Organizations.

Israel prevented Jewish extremists from storming into the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan month, after their incursions and attempts to expel Palestinians from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood sparked unprecedented violent clashes between Arabs and Jews.

Israel closed the al-Maghariba Gate several days before the most widespread confrontations erupted on May 10, leading to war inside and around al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israeli police used bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades against unarmed Palestinians who were defending the mosque from Jewish extremists.

Clashes also erupted in the streets and alleys of Jerusalem, which witnessed another kind of war with the police, special forces, and settlers.

Israel prevented settlers from entering the mosque following the violent clashes, but they gathered in the streets, before Hamas launched its missiles from Gaza towards Jerusalem, marking the beginning of the 11-day war.

Tensions continued in Jerusalem, despite the end of the war in Gaza, as the Israeli forces arrested six citizens from the Old City and near al-Aqsa.

The Palestinian Society Prisoner's Club said that the Israeli forces arrested over 50 citizens from West Bank since Saturday dawn.



Palestinian Journalist Killed in Israeli Strike

 Palestinians inspect the damage to a tent housing journalists after it was hit by an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian Civil Defense, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 7, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Palestinians inspect the damage to a tent housing journalists after it was hit by an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian Civil Defense, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 7, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
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Palestinian Journalist Killed in Israeli Strike

 Palestinians inspect the damage to a tent housing journalists after it was hit by an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian Civil Defense, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 7, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Palestinians inspect the damage to a tent housing journalists after it was hit by an Israeli strike, according to Palestinian Civil Defense, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, April 7, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

A Palestinian journalist was killed on Monday and nine others were wounded, some critically, when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent used by local media in southern Gaza, medics and the local journalists' union said.

Footage showed people trying to douse flames from a fire in the tent, inside the compound of the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, during the early hours of Monday.

Reuters was able to verify the video from the position, layout and design of nearby buildings and tents. The date could be verified by media reports and corroborating videos.

Other footage posted on social media but not verified by Reuters appeared to show the tent had been burned to the ground, along with the furniture and equipment inside it.

Images appearing to show a journalist in flames, and another person trying to rescue him, were widely shared.

Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A second Palestinian was also killed in the attack, Gaza medics said.

Later, dozens of journalists and relatives took part in the funeral of the dead journalist, Helmy al-Faqawi. Colleagues carried his white-shrouded body on a medical stretcher with his blue flak jacket placed on top.

"We will continue to deliver the message and convey the truth to the whole world. This is our humanitarian duty," said fellow journalist Abd Shaath, who added that they were woken by the strike to find the nearby tent of their colleagues on fire.

Faqawi's death raised the number of journalists killed by Israel's campaign in Gaza to more than 210 since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.

In total, local health authorities said Israeli military strikes had killed at least 10 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Monday.

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestinian officials say.