AMMAN, July 26, 2015 (WAFA) – The Jordanian government Sunday strongly denounced Israel’s early Sunday assault against al-Aqsa mosque and worshipers, which left dozens injured, according to the Jordan News Agency (PETRA)

The government’s official spokesperson, in a press statement,  stressed that violating the sanctity of al-Aqsa mosque and assaulting its guards and worshipers is a clear attempt by Israel to provoke Muslims’ feelings worldwide, which he stressed, would only ignite feelings of hatred.

The Jordanian government, which is responsible for Jerusalem's holy sites in line with a 1994 peace treaty with Israel, called on the Israeli government to uphold its responsibilities as the occupying power and prevent the recurrence of such attacks on the holy site.

Earlier Sunday, clashes erupted at the compound after around 30 groups of Jewish hardliners protected by special police forced their way into the site in groups to mark the so-called Destruction of the Temple holiday.

The entry of settlers infuriated worshipers, who gathered to defend the holy site, spurring clashes with police, who provided protection to settlers.

Police fired teargas canisters and stun grenades towards the Muslim worshipers, who responded by chanting religious slogans and throwing rocks and shoes at them. Several properties and a number of the mosque’s gates were destroyed during the assault.

police physically assaulted and beat up a number of worshipers, including women and elderly, during its assault. A woman, a child, and a youth were also arrested by the police outside the mosque compound.

Furthermore, Police attacked the southern building located within the compound, known as al-Qibli mosque, after surrounding it and forcing its guards out, attacking one of them. Police closed the building’s gate with metal chains and prevented worshipers from entering.

In February 2014, Jordan warned Israel that the 20-year-old peace treaty with them would be threatened by continued Jewish settlement building and any effort to change the religious status of the area of the al-Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem.

'All such acts are incompatible with international law and international humanitarian law and if allowed to continue will ultimately imperil the treaty,' Jordan's ambassador to Israel, Walid Obeidat, said in Tel Aviv at an anniversary event of the peace treaty between the two nations that was signed twenty years ago, reported media sources.

T.R.