Middle East Desk
Report
JERUSALEM: Dozens of people were injured and dozens more arrested as clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israelis in east Jerusalem on Thursday night.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli police, at least 44 people were arrested and 20 police officers were injured, as security forces clashed separately with a crowd of far-right Israelis who held an anti-Arab march, and with Palestinians, who protested Ramadan restrictions.
The police did not specify if the detainees were Palestinians or Israelis. The Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement that at least 105 Palestinians were injured during the clashes and 22 of them needed hospital care.
Israeli media reported that an Israeli was injured by the Palestinian protesters.
The police used stun grenades and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The main clashes took place outside the Old City’s Damascus Gate, a predominantly Palestinian area of annexed east Jerusalem, but video footage on Twitter showed smaller clashes and fires in additional parts of the city.
Meanwhile, at least 500 Israeli extremists led by an ultra-right group known as Lehava marched toward the Damascus Gate. The group said the march was organized “to reclaim” the city.
Clashes between Palestinians and police forces have spiked since the beginning of Ramadan last week. The Palestinians said the clashes were sparked by barriers placed by the police outside the Damascus Gate, where Palestinians typically gather during Ramadan nights.
