(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Israeli forces broke into Al Aqsa mosque compound yesterday morning, firing stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at Muslim worshippers as they cleared way for right-wing Jews who were visiting the compound to mark a Jewish fast day.
Dozens of Palestinian worshippers were hit with rubber-coated bullets and suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation. Israeli police officers were reported to have attacked worshippers with pepper spray, rods and rifle butts, according to Palestinian (Ma'an) News Agency.
The officers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate, Chain Gate and Hutta Gate and clashed with worshippers, witnesses said, and Israeli soldiers then shut down the compound's gates with chains.
The Israeli soldiers also stormed Al Aqsa mosque itself and fired rubber-coated bullets inside the holy site.
The compound's Palestinian security guards were assaulted and prevented from moving, witnesses said.
Right-wing Jews then began to make their way into the compound in groups via the Moroccan gate.
Israel's minister of agriculture, Uri Ariel, was among the right-wingers to tour the compound under heavy police escort. Ariel is a member of Naftali Bennett's ultra-right Jewish Home party.
On Saturday, Jewish settlers had severely assaulted a Palestinian child near one of the gates leading to Al Aqsa mosque compound.
Witnesses reported that extremist Israeli settlers assaulted the child near Al-Ghawanma Gate, prompting a group of Palestinians to intervene and save him. Settlers eventually managed to flee the scene.
The Palestinian ministry of interior appealed for urgent moves to save Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian sanctuaries.
In a press release, the ministry condemned the storming of Al Aqsa mosque by extremist settlers under the protection of Israeli occupation forces to celebrate the so-called destruction of the Temple of Solomon.
The statement added that Jerusalem is in need of a serious and effective Arab and Islamic stand capable of deterring and holding accountable Israel for the continued aggression against the holy city. It urged all states and the United Nations agencies to take necessary measures to deter the Israeli occupation policy which systematically undermines the two-state solution.
The Arab League also condemned the storming of Al Aqsa mosque by Israeli armed forces and Jewish settlers.
Arab League assistant secretary-general for Palestine and occupied Arab territories affairs Mohamed Sabih called on UN Security Council's permanent members to shoulder their responsibilities in order to halt violations against sanctuaries, stressing that the League and its members would not remain idle in the face of preparations and arrangements for the construction of the alleged Temple of Solomon.
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