Palestinians, cops clash at Temple Mount, with over 100 injured, many arrests
Clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Temple Mount early Friday morning, as spiking tensions, threats of terror, and the observance of major holidays all converge around the flashpoint holy site.
Skirmishes between police and worshipers at the site were reported around 6:30 a.m., with officers entering the compound and clashing with people barricaded inside.
Police said in a statement that at around 4 a.m., dozens of young people began marching in the area, carrying flags of both the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group.
The marchers threw stones and set off fireworks, while stockpiling rocks and other objects to prepare for further clashes, according to police.
Police said they waited for morning prayers to end before entering the Temple Mount to disperse the rioters, and that some of them threw stones at the Western Wall below.