This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Clashes have broken out between Palestinians and Israeli police in Jerusalem’s Old City at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound before the start of the Jewish new year.

Tensions have been running high after two Muslim civilian groups who patrol the Al-Aqsa compound were banned last week by Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon.

Palestinian witnesses said police had entered the mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, firing rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenades and injuring several worshippers. “They were chasing us with [stun] grenades and it’s been like that since the morning,” one Muslim worshipper, Khadijeh Khweis told Agence France-Presse.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said forces entered the compound at 6.45am after being told Palestinians planned to attack visiting Jews, who revere the site they call Temple Mount.

“Police entered the site and masked protesters were throwing stones and fireworks at police. They were also being thrown from inside the mosque toward police,” he said. “We sealed off the main gate and shut the door of the mosque.”

Rosenfeld said there were up to 650 visitors to the site by 11.30am when tourist visiting hours close ahead of noon prayer.

“Police have also heightened security over the next 48 hours ahead of Jewish new year where thousands are expected to enter the Old City and visit the Western Wall,” he said.

Clashes petered out inside the compound but spilled out into the narrow alleys outside Al-Aqsa.

Last week, Yaalon issued a statement saying he would outlaw the male and female Muslim guards stationed and the Al-Aqsa compound. The guards, called Mourabitoun, or defenders of Islam, say they volunteer to protect Islam’s third-holiest site from Jewish extremists. But Israel has said the guards are provoking violent clashes with Israeli security forces and religious Jews who enter the compound.

Sheik Omar Kiswani, the director of Al-Aqsa mosque, told the Guardian the mosque’s leadership rejected Israel’s outlawing of the Mourabitoun.

He said: “We reject the decision to ban Muslims from entering Al-Aqsa mosque compound. The only body that has the authority over this place is the Waqf under the patronage of Jordan. We call upon all Muslims to be present in Al-Aqsa. It is the home of all Muslims and their presence in this place would intensify their connection to this place.”

The head of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, said he did not accept Muslims preventing Jews from going into the Al Aqsa compound but had advised Jews not to visit the site.

“The Jewish way says we do not have a monopoly over god – that’s why this place [the Western Wall] is open to everyone. A holy place should not be closed for anyone, no matter what his religion is, or what his view on life is.”