Israeli forces on Wednesday assaulted two Al-Aqsa Mosque guards at the holy site in occupied East Jerusalem, the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Endowment said. Mowafak al-Hamami, 50, and Hamza Nimer, 35, were assaulted by Israeli forces who were escorting a group of Israeli rightists touring the site. Both guards were taken to Makassed hospital for medical treatment. Witnesses said that an Israeli pushed a Palestinian woman during the tour and swore at her. Around 25 Israeli rightists entered the site via the Moroccan Gate, while 60 Palestinians were denied access to the compound. At least 52 of those denied were Palestinian women known as the Murabitat who have been blacklisted by Israel from entering the site. Israeli extremist Yehuda Glick participated in the tour, as Palestinians shouted "Allah Akbar (God is Great)" at the group. Tensions have soared across East Jerusalem in the wake of three days of violent clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam. Palestinians fear Israel is seeking to change rules governing the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, with far-right Jewish groups pushing for more access to the compound and even efforts by fringe organisations to erect a new temple. The PLO has accused Israel of provoking the entire Muslim world in its actions at the compound. "Israel is playing with fire," senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said Monday, warning that Israeli authorities were forcibly securing control over the site "in preparation for the total annexation and transformation of Al-Haram Al-Sharif." Jews are allowed to visit the compound at certain times, but are forbidden from praying there, under an agreement between Israel and the Islamic Endowment that administers the site. However, in recent days, Israeli forces have restricted Palestinian access to the site while escorting large numbers of Jewish worshipers through it.
