JERUSALEM (Web Desk)- Israeli security forces have entered Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem amid fresh clashes in the area.
Witnesses told Al Jazeera that Sunday’s confrontation between Israeli forces and Palestinians began after officers entered the compound.
Read more: Israeli forces shoot Palestinian teenager 10 times, lets her die in street
As of 0700 GMT, hundreds of Palestinians have gathered outside the mosque to prevent Israeli police from going any further.
The police forces used stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets against the Palestinians.
Now occuption forces trying to take worshipers out of the holy mosque by force. #AlAqsaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/S0X2xzR6hY
— Abbas Sarsour (@iFalasteen) September 27, 2015
The confrontations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque come at a very tense time. Over the past several days, there have been frequent confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinian worshippers, who go to the site. Read more: 5-year-old Palestenian boy severely injured by dogs of Israeli settlers Al-Aqsa is Islam’s third holiest site after Saudi Arabia’s Makkah and Medina. The security forces entered the holy site after “masked youths hurled stones and fireworks at police,” Israeli police said. “The force pushed back the rioters using anti-riot means. The situation is under control.”
#BREAKING: #Jerusalem: #Palestinian-s threw rocks & fireworks at @IL_police at #AlAqsa mosque. pic.twitter.com/rGss1otXe1 — Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) September 27, 2015
In recent days, during the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashana, there were clashes which damaged parts of the mosque.
Efforts by Israeli police to allow Jewish activists to tour the courtyards of the mosque have stirred strong reactions from Palestinians who fear Israel may change the rules for visiting the compound.
Sunday’s violence also occurred just ahead of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, when many Jews visit Jerusalem.
The clashes come at a sensitive time – at the end of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday and the beginning of the Jewish Succot festival.
Al-Asqa is the third holiest site in Islam, and is also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and is considered the most sacred place in Judaism.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon stated that there would be no age restrictions on Muslims allowed to visit Al-Asqa, while he added that Jewish visitors would be barred from visiting the site in order to avoid any tensions between the two groups, the Times of Israel reported.
However, Palestinians became agitated after Israeli police tried to give Jewish activists the opportunity to tour the grounds of the compound.
مئات المرابطين ينتشرون في الساحات لصد أي اقتحام محتمل؛ تخلل الجلسة أذكار الصباح صلاة الضحى تكبيرات العيد #الأقصى pic.twitter.com/tYrJq7G0Em
— جُندِيَّةُ الأَقصَى (@Alaqsasoldier) September 27, 2015
They feared that Israel maybe trying to reign in on the pledge by Yaalon not to allow Jews to visit the mosque on Sunday.
On September 18, several people were injured in Jerusalem as Palestinians staged a ‘Day of Rage’ to protest new Israeli security measures. This followed several days of rioting at the Al-Aqsa mosque, which culminated in an Israeli security operation using grenades and tear gas against Palestinian protesters.
Palestinian leader Mahmood Abbas “strongly condemned the aggression…” by “troops and occupational police,” his office said in a statement.
Temple Mount, as it is known according to Jewish tradition, frequently sees Palestinian worshipers trying to repel Jews who visit the holy site for prayers and religious celebrations on specially prescribed days.
Palestinians have accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of supporting claims by Jewish ultranationalists seeking access to the site.
The Palestinian Murabitat and the Murabitun “sentinel” groups, comprised of female and male Muslims, respectively, closely monitor Jews who are allowed, under police guard, to visit the holy site for five days of the week. The Israeli government accuses them of hurling abuse at Jewish worshipers and throwing rocks.
Israel considers the two groups the main cause of tension at the site, and has outlawed them on security grounds.
East Jerusalem, where the compound is located, was seized by Israel in 1967 during the Six-Day War. The international community has never recognised the area’s annexation by the Israelis.
