In recent days, Israel's Federal Security Service known by its Hebrew acronym "Shin Bet" along with the Jerusalem Police are investigating the suspicion that some of the rioters who barricaded themselves in the Al-Aqsa Mosque last week brought homemade bombs along with the fireworks that were widely visible on the videos. Security sources defined the investigation, which so far has not been allowed to be fully published, as "complicated and complex".
Riots on the Temple Mount broke out on the night between last Tuesday and Wednesday when hundreds of Muslims barricaded themselves inside the mosque and the Israeli police broke in after attempts to negotiate with them failed. The instigators, who answered a call by Hamas, had hoped to stay overnight and use the stockpile of stones and fireworks, to attack Jewish pilgrims coming to the site before the Passover holiday. More than 350 were arrested in the severe clashes that broke out, and they were transferred for further investigation.
Who desecrates Al Aqsa Mosque?
— alexandermenashe (@alexandrmenashe) April 5, 2023
The Palestinians who- a day before Passover begins- barricade themselves into the mosque with rocks, foreworks and pipe bombs, or the police who after appealing for them to leave, go into remove the Palestinians? https://t.co/N54iGiaQbe
Besides the fireworks that were launched and many objects that were thrown at the police forces, Shin Bet intelligence indicated that a number of pipe bombs were hidden inside the mosque. The police stated last week that among those who were barricaded were "many dozens" of masked rioters who "brought fireworks, sticks, and stones into the mosque and barricaded themselves in it violently using irons, cabinets, and other objects from the mosque which they vandalized."
The news of possible lethal bombs being brought into Al-Aqsa comes as tensions rise ahead of Netanyahu’s decision of whether to close the Temple Mount to Jewish visitors in the last ten days of Ramadan, as has been customary in previous years.
This period, when Muslims usually sleep inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, begins this year on Wednesday, April 12, which coincides with the last day of Passover. While the police support the closing of the compound to Jews during this period, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir strongly opposes it and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will make the ultimate decision, has not yet stated his opinion.
For the previous weeks, over 200,000 Muslims have been peacefully praying each night during Ramadan. What changed last night? Well, like every year, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad incite riots on the Temple Mount, shoot explosives at Jews, and film as Israeli police respond https://t.co/sluCEp9zJt pic.twitter.com/WS7dG31eJx
— Max✡️𓂆🤍⚣🍁 (@lilbuddymax) April 5, 2023
During the debate on the issue Sunday afternoon, Defense Minister Yoav Galant supported Ben Gvir’s position and said that there is no security obstacle for Jews to ascend on the seventh day of Passover. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi was not as vocal as Galant, but it was understood from his words that he did not dismiss Ben Gvir's position. Ben Gvir continued to discuss the issue with Netanyahu, but people who spoke with the prime minister got the impression that he tends to think closing the compound for Jews would be the better solution. The Temple Mount has been relatively quiet in recent days, and Sunday night more than 25,000 Muslims participated in the Tarawih prayer there, without any unusual events being reported.
