September 27, 1996: Israeli troops storm Al Haram Al Sharif

Both sides under intense international pressure to defuse the crisis after three days of the bloodiest Israeli-Palestinian fighting in 30 years

Deadly clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops spread to Al Haram Al Sharif and an unbending stand by Israel’s right-wing government left little hope for a quick end to the worst crisis to hit the peace process. Both sides were coming under intense international pressure to defuse the crisis after three days of the bloodiest Israeli-Palestinian fighting in 30 years, which have left 76 people dead. The US told Israel and the Palestinians “the violence must stop” as Secretary of State Warren Christopher discussed the crisis with Israeli and Arab foreign ministers at the UN. Palestinians accused the Israeli leader of triggering the unprecedented fighting by opening a tunnel near the compound. Palestinians asked the UN Security Council to demand the permanent closing of the tunnel and send a fact-finding mission to the region. Hundreds of Israeli riot police stormed the Al Haram Al Sharif compound and opened fire with live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas after coming under a hail of stones, witnesses said.