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Clashes erupted on Sunday morning between Israeli policemen and Palestinian worshippers at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem), eyewitnesses said.
According to the witnesses, Israeli policemen assaulted Palestinian worshippers and religious students at some of the gates as they were lining up to enter the holy site.
At least seven Palestinians suffered temporary asphyxiation and bruises in the ensuing clashes as the Israeli police fired teargas in a bid to break up the crowd, they added.
"The Israeli police closed a number of the compound's gates and denied access to Palestinians under the age of 50, leading to clashes with worshippers," a Palestinian guard of the compound told Anadolu Agency.
In a statement, the Israeli police said it arrested five Palestinians as they tried to enter the compound.
Tension has been high in Al-Quds over threats by extremist Jewish groups, which have called on supporters to force their way into the holy compound during the weeklong Jewish Passover holiday, the last day of which is celebrated Sunday.
In recent months, groups of extremist Jewish settlers, often accompanied by Israeli security forces, have repeatedly forced their way into the Al-Aqsa complex. The frequent violations anger Palestinian Muslims and occasionally lead to violent confrontations.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied Al-Quds during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
englishnews@aa.com.tr - Kudüs
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