[VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

The government expulsion of residents from Amona, a small community near Ofra in the Shomron, began on Wednesday 5 Shevat 5777. Police made the decision not to continue after nightfall, and while the area was sealed off to prevent supporters from making their way to the site, the operation was ended after nightfall only to continue and be completed the following day, Thursday.

As they began moving in to clear the shul, one policeman sustained a head injury after being struck with a metal pipe hurled from inside the shul. Other objects hurled at police include glass, bleach and a fire extinguisher.

Police then charged a fire hose and began directing the stream of water inside the shul to distance those inside from the door.

It is reported most of the youths inside the shul are not Amona residents. Five policemen were injured in the effort to gain entry to the shul. After a few policemen were injured and police realized doors were welded and nailed shut, a few dozen Yassam commandos wearing helmets were brought in to lead the entry effort followed by the others without helmets or body armor. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan called those holed up in the shuls “Hooligans deserving of every condemnation, lacking a minimum of respect”, decrying their actions and chilul Hashem for using a shul as they do.

Police have given the order to step-up activities as the youths have gone from passive resistance to assaulting police and the situation is getting out of hand.

Some of the youths inside can be seen coughing near a window as they used pepper spray against police and apparently were injured themselves. Others jumped out of windows and tried to flee but police ran after them, trying to apprehend everyone who was in the shul.

Finally inside, police are no longer showing any patience and persons are being grabbed and four policemen are carrying each person out to waiting buses.

Some of the youths inside were chained to one another and furniture.

Following are additional photos and videos from the final day of that expulsion.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photo Credit: קבוצת תקשורת יהודה ושומרון)