A Palestinian death, more detentions and aggression at Al-Aqsa; just another day in the occupied West Bank

Moayad Ghazawneh, 35, died on Friday as a result of the serious wounds he received three weeks ago when he was shot in the face by an Israeli soldier. A resident of Al-Ram neighbourhood to the north of Jerusalem, Mr. Ghazawneh was heading home after work in his car when Israeli occupation forces fired a tear gas canister directly at his face.

The father of two young children has been in intensive care since the assault, in a stable but serious condition. He was pronounced dead on Friday morning in a Ramallah hospital.

In the Hares district north of Salfeet, local sources said that a large number of Israeli occupation forces broke into Palestinian homes at dawn. Ten people were detained after thorough searches of their properties.

Meanwhile, the Israelis prevented Palestinian worshippers aged 50 years or under from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the Friday prayer. Al-Aqsa Foundation for Religious Endowments and Heritage denounced the Israeli measure, which was described by activists as a violation of international conventions that guarantee the freedom of worship.

At the same time, Israeli Knesset Member Moshe Viglin tried to enter the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa via Al-Selsela Gate, but the mosque guards stopped him. Witnesses said that he looked as if he was ready to perform certain rites in the mosque; the MK was accompanied by a media team.

Al-Aqsa Foundation described Viglin’s action as an attempt to create a dangerous precedent; the mosque courtyards are closed to all non-Muslims on Fridays and Saturdays.