Israeli forces sweep through Al-Aqsa courtyards, attack worshippers

RAMALLAH, July 27 (KUNA) -- Scores of Israel's forces on Thursday stormed Al-Aqsa courtyards and attacked worshippers after they concluded Al-Asr (afternoon) prayers.
The Palestinian Red Crescent added in a statement that at least 50 Palestinians were wounded when the Israelis intensively fired gas and sound bombs at worshippers at Al-Asbat and Hetta Gates, as well as inside the holy complex.
They beat up many worshippers in the mosque courtyards and brought down the Palestinian flags that were raised over the complex.
Today, the Palestinians performed the afternoon prayers inside Al-Aqsa, after they were denied the right since July 14. They first conducted "prayers of thanks" to Allah Al-Mighty for the victory they realized against the Israelis, forcing them to remove the metal detector gates and cameras they had fixed at the holy site.
Earlier in the day, the Palestinian religious authorities called Palestinians to flock to Al-Aqsa to perform inside after the Israelis removed all the security measures taken over the past days, at the mosque and its vicinity. (end) nq.msa