At least 42 Palestinians have been injured in clashes with Israeli police on the grounds of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.
The clashes took place during the last Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to Qatar-based Al Jazeera.
Israeli law enforcement officials say worshipers have been gathering at Al Aqsa Square for some time before the start of Friday prayers. At that time, some of the people suddenly started chanting anti-Israel slogans.
Tensions escalated when police entered the premises to calm the situation. The protesters started throwing stones and firecrackers at the law enforcers. They also hurled stones at the Western Wall, a Jewish holy site near the Al Aqsa Mosque.
Police used tear gas, sticks and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 22 of the 42 injured had been hospitalized.
Israeli law enforcement has detained three people from the scene for allegedly inciting protesters. Officials said the situation was brought under control in a short time and then Friday prayers were held at Al Aqsa Square.
In the past two weeks, Palestinians have clashed with Israeli police in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. About 300 Palestinians were injured.
The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf told Al Jazeera that the recent escalation of Israeli Jewish settlers in Al Aqsa Square was the main reason for the conflict. Officials say at least 3,600 Israeli settlers gathered in the square last week to mark the Jewish holy holiday of Passover.
Al Aqsa Mosque is the third religious pilgrimage site for Muslims. According to an agreement reached between the Jewish authorities of Israel and the Palestinians living there, the Al Aqsa Mosque compound will remain for Muslims only. The office of the chief rabbi (Jewish religious leader) in Jerusalem also said that Jewish worship was forbidden in Al Aqsa Square.
Israel’s Orthodox Jews adhere to this policy, but the country’s growing nationalist Jewish community opposes it. They demanded that a synagogue be built in a part of Al Aqsa Square. The Palestinians are fiercely opposed to this claim, and this is where the recent al-Aqsa conflict began.
