Israeli police forces savagely attacked Palestinian worshipers at the Aqsa Mosque on Sunday morning, injuring at least 65 Palestinians, according to a Palestinian official source.
“A number of Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli forces inside the the Aqsa mosque compound,” a spokesperson for Jerusalem's Jordan-run Islamic Awqaf Authority, said.
“The Palestinians were injured while they were preventing Jewish settlers from storming the holy Mosque,” he added.
The Palestinian Red Crescent, meanwhile, said that at least 61 Palestinians, including noted Islamic Awqaf officials, were injured after Israeli forces attacked the worshipers with rubber bullets, teargas and clubs, adding that 15 injured citizens were evacuated to nearby hospitals.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli police prevented settlers from storming the Aqsa Mosque, Israeli media reported.
The police cited the presence of tens of thousands of Palestinian worshipers and the high possibility of clashes.
The Islamic Awqaf Authority in Jerusalem decided to delay Eid prayers to 7.30 a.m. instead of 6.30 a.m. local time to address settlers' call to storm the Aqsa to commemorate the destruction of the alleged temple mount.
Extremist Jewish organizations, known widely as temple mount groups, had called for massive break-ins at the Aqsa during this week.
In this regard, Jordan's foreign ministry has condemned Israeli violations at the Aqsa Mosque as Palestinians mark the first day of Eid al-Adha.
"Jordan strongly rejects Israel's conduct, which only inflames rage and frustration and its provocations of [Muslim] worshipers on the first day of Eid al-Adha," spokesperson for the ministry said.
He added that Israel bears full responsibility for the future ramifications of Sunday's Aqsa clashes and called on the international community to immediately intervene to stop such Israeli practices at the Islamic holy site.
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