Palestinian Wounded by Israeli Army at Al-Aqsa Mosque Passes Away
The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, announced the death of 30-year-old Hamza Abu Sneineh on Friday morning. Sneineh sustained severe injuries when a bullet pierced his skull during the violent raid on May 7, 2021, coinciding with Laylat al-Qadr, an important observance for Muslims.
The raid, in which Israeli forces used tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, and stun grenades against worshipers, resulted in the injury of hundreds of Palestinians and sparked international condemnation.
Sneineh suffered multiple skull fractures and the loss of his left eye as a result of the aggression. He was immediately transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in al-Quds for treatment. Despite his critical condition, Israeli forces arrested him several days later, releasing him at a later time.
Medical sources have reported that Sneineh had been experiencing the effects of his injuries over the past months, with his health deteriorating significantly in the weeks prior to his death.
The frequent acts of violence against Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque in May 2021 led to an 11-day war between Palestinian resistance groups in the besieged Gaza Strip and the Israeli regime. During this conflict, the Israeli forces killed at least 260 Palestinians, including 66 children.
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located above the Western Wall plaza, is home to both the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque. Hardline Israeli officials and settlers frequently invade the compound, a provocative action that angers Palestinians. These incursions are often organized by temple groups supported by Tel Aviv and carried out under the protection of Israeli police in al-Quds.
According to an agreement between Jordan, the custodian of Islamic and Christian sites in al-Quds, and Israel following the occupation of East al-Quds in 1967, non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited, although Jewish visitation is allowed.
Meanwhile, extremist right-wing groups have openly called for turning al-Aqsa into a Jewish worship area and tearing down the Islamic shrines in order to build a Jewish temple on the location.
