Israeli raid on Ramallah mosque leaves three injured

By Mustafa Deveci

JERUSALEM (AA) – At least three people were injured late Friday when Israeli forces raided a mosque in the West Bank, local media reported.

An undercover Israeli force raided Jamal Abdul-Nasser Mosque in Ramallah city and kidnapped Hamza Ghanem, an employee of the Ministry of Awqaf, which is in charge of places of worship, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing their correspondent at the scene.

The group also seized the mosque’s surveillance cameras, WAFA said, adding that Israeli soldiers arrived at the site to “secure the pullout of the undercover force, provoking clashes with locals”.

The agency said three Palestinians were injured when Israeli soldiers fired teargas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters.

Minister of Awqaf Yousi Id'ais condemned the incident and reiterated his call on the international community to protect Muslim and Christian holy places in Palestine from Israeli attacks.

Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, claiming it as the Jewish state’s “undivided and eternal capital” -- a move never recognized by the international community.

International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all Jewish settlement construction there illegal.