Israeli police and special forces stormed al-Aqsa Mosque compound for a second straight day on Monday, attempting to detain Palestinian activists who have taken shelter in the besieged Qibli Mosque.
Al-Aqsa is considered the third holiest site in the Islamic faith.
Local sources told
al-Araby al-Jadeed "The occupation forces have told officials in the Islamic Endowments Authority in Jerusalem that they intend to detain the protesters in al-Aqsa."
Clashes erupted again Monday morning between Palestinians who flocked to defend the mosque and Israeli forces following the storming of the compound on Sunday.
Six Palestinians were reportedly arrested while five were injured, one in serious condition.
Israeli forces in and around the Aqsa complex are on high alert, amid reports of assaults against Palestinian activists and journalists.
Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, director of al-Aqsa Mosque, told the
Anadolu news agency that around 150 Israeli police officers "raided al-Aqsa, using stun grenades and rubber bullets".
Kiswani said the Israeli police proceeded to seal the gates of the Qibli Mosque inside the compound with chains, trapping the worshippers staging a sit-in inside.
According to the director, Israeli police have also climbed to the roof of the mosque and are deployed in the courtyards, and are currently preventing all worshippers from entering the site.
Kiswani denounced the repeated Israeli raids on the mosque.
"This suggests there is a deliberate plan against al-Aqsa Mosque and an attempt to impose a new reality by force," he said.
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Anger as Israeli forces storm al-Aqsa Mosque compound