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World

Timeline: Jerusalem clashes

Agence France-Presse
Timeline: Jerusalem clashes
A Palestinian demonstrator is blindfolded and surrounded by Israeli security forces, as Palestinian families face eviction, part of an ongoing effort by Jewish Israelis to take control of homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied east Jerusalem, on May 5, 2021. Israeli Jews backed by courts have taken over houses in Sheikh Jarrah in east Jerusalem on the grounds that Jewish families lived there before fleeing in Israel's 1948 war for independence. The claimants seek to evict a total of 58 more Palestinians, according to the watchdog group Peace Now, and Israel's Supreme Court is set to announce a decision for four of those families on May 6, 2021.
Ahmad Gharabli / AFP

JERUSALEM, Undefined -- This is a recap of the worst clashes since 2017 around the Al-Aqsa mosque in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem -- Islam's third holiest site -- fuelled by a years-long bid by Jewish settlers to take over nearby Palestinian homes.

Bloody end to Ramadan

Clashes erupt on Friday as Muslims pack the Al-Aqsa compound to pray on the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Violence had been building in the Holy City and occupied West Bank for the previous week.

Palestinians hurl stones, bottles and fireworks at police who fire rubber bullets and stun grenades. The site is sacred to Jews as the location of two biblical-era temples.

More than 220 people, mostly Palestinians, are wounded.

Second night 

On Saturday prayers at the mosque compound are held peacefully but violence flares elsewhere in east Jerusalem.

Some 121 Palestinians are wounded overnight, many hit by rubber bullets and stun grenades, the Palestinian Red Crescent says.

Israeli police say 17 of its officers are wounded.

The Middle East Quartet -- the US, Russia, EU and the UN -- express "deep concern" over the violence.

Court case delay 

Much of the recent unrest stems from the long-running legal effort by Jewish settler groups to evict several Palestinian families from their homes in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

A lower court ruling earlier this year backing the settlers' decades-old claim infuriated Palestinians.

A Supreme Court hearing on a Palestinian appeal had been set for Monday and risked inflaming tensions further.

On Sunday the justice ministry delays the hearing in light of "the circumstances".

Third night 

Scuffles between Palestinians and Israeli police in east Jerusalem continue overnight into Sunday.

Pope Francis joins global calls for an end to the violence.

In the evening Israeli police again face off against mostly young Palestinians at several locations in east Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defends Israel's response to the protests and rioting.

"We will uphold law and order –- vigorously and responsibly," he says while vowing to "guard freedom of worship for all faiths".

Monday march canceled 

Some 331 Palestinians are wounded, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, in renewed clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at the mosque compound on Monday ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israel's capture of Jerusalem in 1967.

The "Jerusalem Day" march through the Old City celebrating its capture by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967 is canceled.

Hundreds of Jewish worshippers are evacuated from the Western Wall following clashes.

Hamas warns of escalation unless Israel pulls its security forces out of the compound.

After a 1500 GMT ultimatum expires a volley of rockets are fired from Gaza, some towards Israel.

'Red line' 

The Israeli army launches airstrikes on Gaza and says it has targeted a "Hamas military operative". Hamas sources confirm that one of its commanders has been killed.

The health ministry in the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave says at least 20 people, including nine children, are killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Netanyahu warns that Hamas has crossed a "red line" and that Israel will "respond with force".

The US and Britain condemn the Hamas rockets and call for de-escalation.

A huge fire engulfs trees in the compound, visible from various parts of the city.

ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES

JERUSALEM

PALESTINE

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