Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa compound in occupied East Jerusalem Sunday morning, clashing with worshipers, injuring and detaining several others, as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan entered its final ten holiest days.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said a group of worshipers were hit with batons and suffered injuries from rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas. Five Palestinians were taken to al-Maqasid Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem for treatment.
Witnesses said Israeli forces toured al-Qabli mosque in the complex in the early morning, before opening the Moroccan gate to allow a group of ultra-religious Jewish settlers to enter the complex, which caused clashes between worshipers and Israeli forces.
Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, director of the Islamic Endowment at al-Aqsa told Ma'an that Israeli police are trying to impose a new status quo on al-Aqsa, by allowing settlers to enter mosque in the last ten days of Ramadan, in which some Muslims stay at al-Aqsa to pray for long periods of time.
He added that Israeli police insisted on allowing settlers and tourists into the mosque today, which provoked worshipers.
An Israeli police spokesman confirmed that four Palestinians were arrested inside the al-Aqsa compound Sunday for "causing disturbances," and after the arrests the tour for the group of settlers "carried on as normal."
The Islamic Endowment slammed Israel for 'provocations' earlier this month, highlighting the extreme sensitivity surrounding al-Aqsa during the month of Ramadan, and the danger of continuing illegal tours for extremist settlers on the compound.
