Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli forces today stormed occupied East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, firing tear gas and stun grenades at Muslim worshipers gathered for Friday Special Prayers.
Israeli police also sealed the gates of Al Aqsa compound, with some worshipers stuck inside for more than two and a half hours, said Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons, reporting from Mount of Olives, in occupied East Jerusalem.
At least 40 Palestinian were injured inside the compound and six Palestinians were arrested, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing local sources.
"At least 60 soldiers entered the mosque compound, where they used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse worshipers after Friday prayers," Firas al-Dibs, a spokesman for al-Waqf, Jerusalem's Jordan-run Religious Endowments Authority, said in a statement.
Two of their guards were injured - one was hit by a stun grenade and the other was assaulted, al-Waqf said in a statement.
According to al-Dibs, the Israeli authorities sealed the Al-Aqsa Mosque with iron chains and prevented Palestinian worshippers from entering it. The closure consequently led to confrontations with worshipers, Wafa reported.
It is not yet clear as to what was the cause for the Israeli forces' to storm the compound.
Al-Aqsa Mosque located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is the third holiest site in Islam. The mosque was built on top of the Temple Mount, known as Haram esh-Sharif in Islam. Parts of the site are also considered holy for Jews and Christians.
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