Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the government of Israel as police clashed with Palestinians barricaded inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on April 4.
Trudeau said despite Canada being a “dear and close and steadfast friend” to Israel, he was deeply concerned about the direction that the Israeli government has been taking, and needed to see the country begin “shifting its approach.”
Trudeau also condemned the rocket attacks from Gaza targeting Israel.
“We need to see a de-escalation of violence,” he said.
Israeli police entered the al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, in Jerusalem on April 5 in order to clear out what they called “hundreds of rioters and mosque desecrators” barricaded inside. The police used stun grenades and rubber bullets against the protestors, who hurled stones and launched fireworks against the police. Police said they arrested more than 350 people in the mosque, while at least 12 people were injured in the clashes.
The conflict comes during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of the Jewish Passover holiday.
Since Ramadan began on March 22, a group of Palestinians have repeatedly attempted to stay overnight in the mosque, which is usually permitted only during the last 10 days of the holiday. Israeli police have evicted the worshippers on a nightly basis.
More Palestinians began staying inside the mosque after Jewish ultranationalists called for the ritual slaughter of goats inside the site, an ancient Passover holiday ritual no longer practiced by most Jews.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed the situation on “extremists” who have barricaded themselves in the mosque with weapons.
“Israel is committed to maintaining freedom of worship, free access to all religions and the status quo on the Temple Mount and will not allow violent extremists to change that,” he said in a statement.
Palestinian authorities have in turn condemned the police raids.
“Israel’s raid into Al-Aqsa mosque, its assault on worshippers, is a slap to recent U.S. efforts which tried to create calm and stability during the month of Ramadan,” a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said.
The White House has urged both sides to “avoid further escalation.”
Rocket Attacks
Following the Palestinian’s eviction from the mosque, the Israel Defense Forces said nine rockets were fired from Gaza Strip toward Israel. In response, Israeli fighter jets bombed weapons manufacturing and storage sites in the Gaza Strip belonging to Hamas.Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a harsh response to the rocket attacks from Gaza, tweeting: “Hamas rockets require more than blasting dunes and empty sites. It’s time to rip heads off in Gaza.”
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was committed to preserving the long-standing arrangement between Muslims and Jews at the mosque and called the individuals who locked themselves in the building “extremists.”
