JERUSALEM, July 19, 2017 (WAFA) – Dozens of Palestinians were injured late Tuesday when Israeli police attacked Palestinian worshippers who were holding the night prayer outside Al-Aqsa Mosque at Lions’ Gate (Bab al-Asbat) of Jerusalem’s Old City, according to witnesses and officials.

Worshippers have been holding prayers outside the mosque compound since Sunday to protest police installation of metal detectors at the entrances to the compound.

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, a preacher at Al-Aqsa Mosque who was one of those hurt in the police crackdown, said the police attacked the worshippers soon after the prayer.

Police claimed rocks were thrown at them and therefore they responded with force.

However, Sabri said the police assault was not justified but that they wanted to remove the worshippers, who were in the hundreds, from the area and therefore used force to disperse them.

The Red Crescent said at least 14 people were hurt and taken to hospitals, one of them seriously injured from a rubber-coated metal bullet shot at him from a short distance.

Palestinians have called for a day of rage on Wednesday to protest the recent Israeli measures at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which they worry are a prelude to Israeli efforts to change the long-standing status quo at the Muslim holy site that gives Muslims sole control over it.

Clashes with police were also reported throughout the night in other neighborhoods around East Jerusalem, including Silwan and Issawiyeh.

M.K.