A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday urged citizens to travel to Al Aqsa Mosque to "thwart the Israeli onslaught" on Islam’s third-holiest site, Palestinian official news agency Wafa said.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh joined other Palestinian and Jordanian officials in describing Sunday’s events as a "dangerous escalation" after Israeli police entered the mosque compound for the second time since Friday, when more than 150 people were injured.
"The Palestinians will not allow this conspiracy to pass, whatever the price and whatever the sacrifices," Mr Rudeineh said.
Israeli police said in a statement that "hundreds of youths" collected and stockpiled rocks to "create disorder and block visitor pathways" in the Old City of Jerusalem.
They released a video of youths throwing stones at a moving bus outside the Old City.
Jamal Nazzal, spokesman for ruling Fatah party, questioned the reasoning behind the Israeli security forces’ manoeuvres.
“How could several hundred Israeli policemen and soldiers be ready for an allegedly spontaneous reaction to Palestinians throwing stones inside the mosque at 5am before sunrise? Why would any Palestinian be throwing stones in any direction if there were no police forces inside the mosque to disturb, insult and provoke them by violent actions?”
Later on Sunday, the spokesman for the Committee of Temple Organisations, Asaf Fried, wrote in a Facebook post that "728 Jews climbed the Mount safely today. They have failed! We have won!"
Some Palestinians have also claimed victory, describing Israel’s actions as a "withdrawal" from the mosque’s premises.
Jerusalem’s Islamic Supreme Committee called for people to mobilise in support of the mosque.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s King Abdullah condemned on Sunday what he described as Israeli escalatory moves in Jerusalem, in his first public remarks since leaving to Germany for back surgery last week.
The king said that Israel must “respect the historic and international status” of the the Al Aqsa mosque and “find a real political horizon that guarantees all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, based on the two states solution."
He described protection of Jerusalem and its holy sites as “a Jordanian priority”, saying that the city’s “Arab, Islamic and Christian identity” must be preserved.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Israel’s attempt to "change the historic and legal status quo in Al Aqsa is a dangerous escalation and breach of international law".
At least 22 Palestinians were injured, including three seriously, the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
Israeli forces fired tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets at the worshippers, Wafa said.
Israeli forces also attacked women near the mosque, beating them with batons, the news agency said.
Some worshippers were locked inside prayer halls by Israeli forces and chanted: "With our souls, with our blood, we will redeem you, Aqsa," it said.
The news agency said Israeli forces also cleared worshippers from the Marwani prayer hall, a vaulted space at the bottom of stairs that lead down from Al Aqsa to the southern wall of the site.
"The occupying forces are engaging in terrorism at Al Aqsa by stifling worshippers and preventing freedom of worship," said Al Aqsa’s preacher and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ekrima Sa’id Sabri.
Israeli police said they entered to enable a routine visit to the site by Jews.
Al Aqsa is administered by a waqf – an Islamic trust – that is funded and controlled by Jordan in a security arrangement with Israel after both countries signed a peace treaty in 1994.
Under the arrangement, Jews are not allowed to pray in the grounds of Al Aqsa compound but can do so at the nearby Western Wall.
"Your Aqsa is crying for help," a man was heard saying.
In Jenin, two demonstrations broke out, protesting against the events in Al Aqsa.
Dozens of people struggles to breathe after tear gas was launched by on the demonstrators, Wafa said.
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A child runs away from a confrontation between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces, at Beita village in the occupied West Bank. AFP -
Palestinian demonstrators at Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. AFP -
A Palestinian protester uses a sling during a confrontation with Israeli security forces during a demonstration against Jewish settlements, at Beita, in the occupied West Bank. AFP -
Supporters of the Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements rally after Friday prayers in Gaza City, following clashes at Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. AFP -
Palestinians gather around the Dome of the Rock shrine at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, after Friday prayers. AFP -
Palestinian men wearing national flags kneel to pray near the Dome of the Rock shrine in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound. AFP -
Israeli Border Police secure the perimeter of the closed Israeli army Qalandia checkpoint, used by Palestinians to cross from the West Bank into Jerusalem, near the West Bank city of Ramallah. AP Photo -
A Palestinian man removes a police sign from a wall at Al Aqsa Mosque compound after Israeli security forces used force against worshippers gathered for Ramadan prayers. Reuters -
Palestinians return from Al Aqsa Mosque after Friday prayers. AFP -
Supporters of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups rally after Friday prayers in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, to express support for those at Al Aqsa Mosque. AFP -
Worshippers during Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque compound. AFP -
Hamas and Islamic Jihad supporters at a rally on Friday in Khan Yunis. AFP -
Palestinian protesters in Khan Yunis. AFP -
Palestinian girls in front of the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. AFP -
Israeli police officers keep watch after clashes with Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem. The overlapping religious occasions – Ramadan for Muslims, Passover for Jews and Easter for Christians – have increased tensions near contested sacred sites in Jerusalem. Getty Images -
Worshippers during Friday prayers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque complex. AFP -
Palestinian protesters after Friday prayers in Jerusalem. AFP -
Worshippers gather for Friday prayers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound. AFP -
An Israeli police officer stops a Muslim woman on her way to Friday prayer in Jerusalem. Getty Images -
Palestinians clean Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque after Israeli security forces entered. Reuters -
Palestinians clean the entrance to the mosque. Debris and broken glass cover the floor. Reuters -
Palestinian youths who took part in a protest at the mosque are arrested by Israeli security forces. AFP -
A member of the Israeli security forces lifts his baton in front of the Dome of the Rock mosque. Witnesses said Palestinian protesters threw stones at Israeli forces, who fired rubber bullets. AFP -
Israeli security forces detain Palestinian youths after a violent confrontation at the mosque. AFP -
Israeli security forces detain Palestinian protesters following the violence. Reuters -
Israeli security forces take their positions during clashes with Palestinian protesters. Reuters -
Palestinians are kept at bay by Israeli police during clashes. AFP -
Israel said its forces entered to remove rocks and stones that had been gathered in anticipation of violence. Reuters -
Masked Palestinians take position. The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said 59 wounded people were admitted to hospital. AP Photo -
Israeli police fire tear gas towards Palestinian demonstrators. AFP -
Israeli security forces deploy in front of the Lion's gate. AFP -
Palestinians are kept at bay by Israeli police. AFP -
Israeli security forces advance against worshippers and protesters Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Witnesses said that Palestinian protesters threw stones at Israeli security forces, who fired rubber bullets at some of the demonstrators. AFP -
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said dozens of masked men carrying Palestinian and Hamas flags had marched to the compound early on Friday and gathered stones. AFP -
Palestinian demonstrators throw rocks at Israeli police at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque compound. AFP -
Videos circulating online showed clouds of tear gas at the mosque. AFP -
Palestinians use boards to protect themselves from Israeli police, who also used rubber bullets and stun grenades. AP -
Worshippers set up barricades outside the mosque during the violence. AP -
Israeli police entered the compound before dawn as thousands of worshippers gathered for early morning prayers during Ramadan. AP -
A man is carried on a stretcher after being wounded during the violence. AFP -
The mosque is part of Haram Al Sharif, the third holiest site in Islam. It is built on a hilltop that is the most sacred site for Jews. AFP -
The mosque has been a major flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence for decades.. AFP -
One of the guards at the site was reportedly shot in the eye with a rubber bullet. AFP
The violence on Friday and Sunday at Islam’s third-holiest site, which is also revered in Judaism, came during Ramadan and before the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Friday’s events drew widespread condemnation, including from the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The UAE called on Israeli authorities to respect the right of Palestinians to practise their religious rites and halt any acts that breach the sanctity of Al Aqsa.
A statement issued by Morocco said the "flagrant aggression and deliberate provocation during the holy month of Ramadan will only inflame hatred and extremism, and reduce to nothing the chances of any relaunch of a peace process in the region”.
The incursions raise fears of another flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Confrontations at Al Aqsa were a contributing factor to the 11-day war between Israel and militants in Gaza last May.
