Violent clashes broke out at Al-Aqsa Mosque overnight Tuesday, during an attempt by police officers to evacuate Muslim worshipers who were holed up in the mosque. According to Palestinian Arab reports, 45 people were injured.
Palestinian Arab channels claimed that stun grenades were thrown and rubber bullets were fired at the worshipers, who refused to leave the complex, while the Palestinian Arabs, on the other hand, fired fireworks at the Israeli forces.
In addition, the Palestinian Arabs claimed that a police force attacked the worshipers using batons and rifle butts.
The Israel Police said that clashes broke out between police forces and dozens of young people who barricaded themselves in Al-Aqsa Mosque and tried to disturb the order.
"After attempts to negotiate to remove the worshipers, the forces were forced to enter the compound," the police said, adding that rocks were thrown at the forces and fireworks were set off, and that dozens of suspects were arrested.
Ibrahim Al-Dabbas, a Muslim activist in Jerusalem, told Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV that Israel had committed a "crime" when it acted violently against Muslims at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al-Dabbas called for Palestinian Arab aid from all sources, saying that Israel is trying to change the reality in the mosque. "The fascist Zionist government is taking advantage of the Jewish holidays to attack the Al-Aqsa Mosque" and "drag the region into a religious war," he charged.
The Islamic Jihad terrorist organization said that it is closely monitoring what is happening at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Muslim worshipers who were in the mosque called on the Al-Qassam Brigades to launch rockets towards Israel in response to the incident.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh commented on the clashes on the Temple Mount and said that they were an "unprecedented crime" and that there would be "consequences".
In late March, the Israel Police evacuated hundreds of worshipers who had barricaded themselves on the Temple Mount after the conclusion of prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and planned to sleep in the compound in order to disrupt public order during the morning hours.
The police said that the worshipers barricaded themselves in the compound in complete contradiction to an agreement with the Waqf and the rules of the place. It was also stated that no special means were used during the activity, and there were no disturbances or violent incidents.
According to Palestinian Arab reports, one person was arrested.
Last Friday night, clashes broke out near the mosque after police officers shot and killed an Arab terrorist who tried to steal a weapon from a Border Police officer who was stationed at the Chain Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.