Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque Wednesday, sparking a military exchange of rockets and air strikes in flaring violence as the Jewish Passover coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.Armed police in riot gear stormed the mosque's prayer hall before dawn, aiming to dislodge "law-breaking youths and masked agitators" they said had barricaded themselves inside following evening prayers.
The mosque in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem is Islam's third holiest site. It is built on top of what Jews call the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest site
Global criticism and concern mounted Wednesday after Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside Islam's third-holiest site. Two more rockets were fired late Wednesday from the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israel, in flaring violence during both the Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
World leaders and global organizations expressed concern about and condemned Israeli violence against Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East.