Israeli police clash with Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque

JERUSALEM, Palestine

Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian protesters at Jerusalem's revered Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second day running on Monday.

“At least 370 Israeli soldiers and police officers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque through Al-Mugharbeh and Al-Silsila gates and fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets at worshippers near the Al-Qibali Mosque”, witnesses told Anadolu Agency.

Witnesses at the scene said that 20 Israeli soldiers went up to the roof of the Al-Qibali Mosque, smashing windows and shooting at worshippers.

SheikhOmar al-Qiswani, Al-Aqsa Mosque director, told Anadolu Agency that one Palestinian was shot with a rubber bullet and 25 Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

He added that Israeli soldiers closed all the gates of the Al-Qibali Mosque with iron chains and surrounded the Al-Aqsa Mosque preventing men under 50 years old from entering the mosque compound.

After the Sunday morning scuffles, which reportedly saw security forces use rubber bullets and stun grenades, the mosque compound was closed off to men aged under 50, police announced.

Tensions have been high over the past two weeks during a series of Jewish and Muslim religious holidays, during which security has been tightened.

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot is being celebrated on Monday, immediately following the end of the four-day Muslim festival Eid al-Adha.

The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is considered holy by both Muslims and Jews, who call it Temple Mount.