Palestinians, Israeli police clash at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa

JERUSALEM, July 26 (Reuters) – Masked rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli police using stun grenades clashed on Sunday at al-Aqsa mosque plaza, on the annual Jewish day of mourning for Jerusalem’s two destroyed Biblical temples.

Violence at the site has flared in the past year as Palestinians have been riled by visits by non-Muslims, including ultranationalist Jews, to the compound.

The police said a number of officers were injured.

“In light of the severe confrontation and the escalating actions of the rioters and with the aim of preventing further injury to police… forces entered a number of metres inside and closed the doors to the mosque with the rioters inside, restoring order”.

At least three stone-throwers were arrested.

On Saturday, Israeli settlers severely assaulted a Palestinian child near one of the gates leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Israeli soldiers also reportedly stormed Al-Aqsa mosque itself and fired rubber-coated bullets inside the holy site.

The police said that after their brief foray into the mosque, they withdrew and the area was quiet.

Jews refer to the hilltop site – their holiest – as the Temple Mount. He expressed concern that Israel intends to increase restrictions on Palestinian worshipers at the site.

Bakeerat said the Jewish invasion of occupied East Jerusalem had been unstoppable, adding that Israel not only wanted to take over Arab and Muslim landscapes in the city but to also “kill and bury economic life there”.

Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, but the Palestinians claim the eastern sector as capital of their promised state.