JERUSALEM, May 13, 2018 (WAFA) – Israeli police Sunday assaulted a number of Islamic Waqf guards  for attempting to fend off Israeli settlers‘ provocative tour inside al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, according to Waqf sources.

Feras Debes, a media coordinator of the Islamic Waqf, said Israeli policemen escorted about 400 Jewish settlers who forced their way into the compound to perform rituals, provoking clashes with Muslim worshipers and Islamic Waqf personnel.

The Israeli police attack resulted in the injury of a number of Waqf personnel in charge of running al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The police also arrested a guard of the Islamic Waqf.

Tensions prevailed since early morning across the Old City of Jerusalem as Jewish settlers celebrated the anniversary of Israel’s occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem.

Police reportedly heavily deployed across the Old City neighborhood in the occupied city and imposed strict measures to protect the settlers.

Earlier on Saturday, a number of Jewish organizations called upon their fans to organize collective visits to the holy site to celebrate the 51st anniversary of Israel‘s occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem.

Today‘s clashes come two days prior to the scheduled relocation by the United States of its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a step which has been vehemently rejected worldwide.

M.N./T.R.