Fierce confrontations erupted in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on Sunday morning between Palestinian Muslims and Israeli police and settlers breaking into the area, witnesses said.
At least thirteen Palestinians were injured, two of whom sustaining serious injuries. Israeli police said two police officers were hurt.
confrontations erupted after groups of extremists broke into the compound, which is purportedly guarded by Israeli police. Palestinians hurled stones, chairs, and shoes at the Israelis, and police tried to disperse them by force, injuring nine people including two seriously injured in the eye and head.
Meanwhile, confrontations erupted outside the compound near Majlis Gate, one of its main entrances, after police prevented worshippers from entering the compound. Four more were injured in the new wave of confrontations. One of those four was also hit in the eye. Palestinian sources said some of the injured were evacuated from the compound while the rest remained inside.
For its part, Israeli police said only two Palestinians and two Israelis were injured in the clashes.
Hundreds of Jerusalemites, and Palestinians living inside Israel hurried to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, but Israeli police closed all entrances preventing them from entering. Demonstrators gathered outside the main gates chanting and denouncing the Israeli occupation and what they called assaults against holy places and residents in Jerusalem.
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