Hamas forces march over disputed holy site

(26 Jul 2017) Hundreds of Hamas national security forces marched through Gaza City on Wednesday following Israel's installation of new security measures at a contested shrine in Jerusalem.
A senior Muslim official in Jerusalem earlier said that worshippers would not return to the shrine until Israel removes the railings and cameras it installed after a deadly attack there.
Israel installed the new security features earlier this month after Arab gunmen shot and killed two police officers from within the site.
Under intense pressure, it removed the metal detectors and said it planned to install sophisticated cameras instead.
Israel says the measures were a natural response and necessary to prevent further attacks while Palestinians claim Israel is trying to expand its control over the site.
The continued standoff highlighted the deep distrust between Israel and the Palestinians when it comes to the shrine - the third-holiest in Islam and the most sacred in Judaism.
The 37-acre (15-hectare) esplanade, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount, has been a lightning rod for the rival religious and national narratives of the two sides.
It has triggered major confrontations in the past.

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