Israel cancels army leave ahead of ‘Day of Rage’

Israel yesterday five of its army units on standby in preparation for any escalation that may occur today at Al-Aqsa Mosque after Palestinians called for a ‘Day of Rage’ in response to the security measures which have been put in place around the Muslim holy site.

Soldiers have also had their leave cancelled, sources said.

Watch how Palestinians being beaten and arrested in a barbaric way in Al-Quds by Zionist troops, #Palestine!#dayofrage #NoGates pic.twitter.com/0JKSM4d3Ii

— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) July 20, 2017

Muslims have also been angered by the settler incursions into the mosque which have become a daily occurrence and happen under heavy police protection. “The incursions are carried out through the Mughrabi Gate, which is controlled by the Israeli police.”

Firas Al-Dibs, a media official in the Islamic Awqaf Department of Occupied Jerusalem, confirmed that “on Thursday morning, the settlers renewed their incursions in groups.” The sources estimated that there were 182 settlers involved.

Read: Check out MEMO’s live coverage of the ‘Day Of Rage’

This comes at a time when Palestinians have, for the fifth day in a row, continued “their refusal to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque through the electronic checkpoints set up by the Israeli police at the gates of the mosque, and are conducting prayers in the streets and alleys of Old Jerusalem, the streets that lead to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and at its gates, especially the Lions’ Gate.”

Occupation looks for ‘a way out’

Yesterday, the Minister of Internal Security, Gilad Erdan, told Israeli Army Radio that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering “changing the decision to set up electronic gates and metal detectors at the entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque”, although Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel has not changed its position on this matter.

Erdan claimed that “during the past week, there have not been any voices against the establishment of electronic gates, or even any condemnations at the international level.”

Read: Palestinians refuse Israeli searches to enter Al-Aqsa

According to available information published in Israeli reports, consultations are continuing at the security and political levels in Israel in search of a “settlement” before the expected mass demonstrations.

#DayOfRage

Islamic leaders in Jerusalem have called on all mosques not to hold Friday prayers today in an effort to urge people to head to Al-Aqsa in large numbers.

Meanwhile, the so-called Organisation of Solomon’s Temple is preparing to hold a “vigil” to honour the two Israeli policemen, Kamil Shanan and Hail Stawi, who were killed near the Lion’s Gate entrance of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to Israeli media outlets, members of the Knesset will participate in the “vigil” alongside public figures.