updated at 9:20 pm (Eastern Time, USA)
True to its criminal nature, the Zionist regime’s air force fired missiles and dropped bombs on civilian areas in the besieged Gaza Strip today (May 10).
The Palestinian health ministry said at least 26 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air raids on the besieged enclave on May 10 and 11.
The dead include 9 children.
Among those killed were two siblings from the al-Masri family, Ibrahim, 11, and seven-year-old Marwan, from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, the Middle East Eye reported.
In retaliation for Zionist occupation forces attacking al Aqsa Mosque and wounding more than 300 worshippers with rubber-coated steel bullets, Hamas fired rockets into Israel.
Ever the terrorist, the Zionist regime bombed civilians in Gaza.
Muslim countries should demand that peacekeeping forces be deployed in Occupied Palestine to protect defenceless Palestinians from Zionist attacks.
For the fourth consecutive day, heavily-armed Israeli police and other forces have attacked Palestinian worshippers inside Masjid al Aqsa as well as on the Haram al Sharif.
Firing steel bullets coated with rubber, tear gas shells and stun grenades, the occupation forces have injured hundreds of Palestinians including women and children.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported early in the day that 215 Palestinians have been injured today of whom 153 needed hospitalization.
Four of them are in critical condition.
Later in the day, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reported 305 people were injured including eight journalists and several paramedics.
The PCHR statement further said at least seven of the injured are in critical condition.
At least 29 children have also been injured since Friday May 7.
The youngest is a one-year-old child.
The Jerusalem emergency medical services spokesperson said Israel was denying medics access to the mosque.
Continuing their oppressive, inhumane policies, Zionist occupation forces even confiscated some carts used to evacuate the wounded, thereby jeopardizing their lives.
In the assault on Al Aqsa Mosque today, the Zionists not only barged into the mosque sound room and cut off wires to the loud speakers, they also took (stole) the keys to the various entrances to al Aqsa.
The assault on Al Aqsa Mosque preceded a march by illegal Zionist squatters (aka settlers) through the streets of Al-Quds (aka Jerusalem).
Since the beginning of Ramadan, the squatters have attacked Palestinian worshippers almost on a daily basis.
Shouting “death to Arabs”, and rampaging through the Old City that is predominantly Palestinian although it is being ethnically-cleansed, the Zionist thugs have attacked defenceless Palestinians.
The Zionist occupiers have prevented Palestinian worshippers from entering the holy compound for prayer.
On the first Friday of Ramadan this year, only 70,000 worshippers were allowed.
In 2019, there were 200,000 worshippers in the Haram al Sharif, that comprises the Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, several madrassas and zawiyahs.
On the last Friday of Ramadan (May 7), the Zionists blocked all cars coming from the West Bank and those from the 1948 Green line for Palestinians to join in the prayer.
The Palestinians abandoned their cars and walked on foot to reach the Noble Sanctuary.
Every evening after iftar (breaking of the fast), Palestinians gather at Damascus Gate.
This is a popular gathering place.
This year, Zionist thugs have regularly attacked the Palestinians.
When the victims try to defend themselves against such brutality, they are accused of being “violent”.
Now, the Zionist occupation forces have installed metal barricades at Damascus Gate.
While claiming that this is a “temporary measure”, Palestinians know all too well that in the past such “temporary measures” have become permanent.
The Palestinians’ fear is the Zionists will block their entrance through the Damascus Gate permanently as a prelude to attack on and occupation of Masjid al Aqsa.
Given these circumstances, there is urgent need to protect the Palestinians suffering the Zionist siege.
It is unrealistic to expect western regimes to help the Palestinians.
They are all accomplices in Israeli crimes.
It is time for Muslim countries to demand that peacekeeping forces be deployed in Occupied Palestine to protect the people and their places of worship.
The Arabian regimes are not only grossly incompetent, they are part of the problem.
They are aligned with the Zionist entity.
These peacekeeping forces should come from countries like Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
True, western regimes will protest but when they invoke the doctrine of Right to Protect (R2P) in areas that suit their interests, why can’t Muslims protect fellow Muslims, and indeed Palestinian Christians suffering Zionist brutality?
Such deployment may even pave the way for the resolution of this long festering problem and end the suffering of the Palestinian people.