Clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque left over 200 Palestinians injured on Monday as tensions continue to boil over in the holy city.
Following clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound over the weekend, Monday's hostilities erupted as Israelis prepared to mark Jerusalem Day, marking Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War.
East Jerusalem has been at the center of violent clashes during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as Palestinian residents in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood face evictions over Israeli settlers' plans to take over properties in the area.
According to The Associated Press, Israeli police said protesters threw stones from the mosque compound at officers, as well as towards an adjoining roadway near the Western Wall, where thousands of Israeli Jews were praying.
Israeli police fired tear gas and stun grenades as protesters threw stones and other projectiles at officers, AP reported. Videos from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque shared to social media on Monday purportedly showed worshippers scattering and shouting as Israeli police fired stun grenades and tear gas inside Islam's third holiest site.
Another video showing stun grenades exploding inside Al Aqsa Mosque pic.twitter.com/huQ9tAdME2
— Local Focus - Security Alerts (@LocalFocus1) May 10, 2021
The Palestinian Red Crescent said it has treated more than 278 wounded demonstrators during Monday's clashes in Al-Aqsa Mosque, with at least 205 taken to hospitals and five sustaining "very serious" injuries. The organization told Newsweek three of its paramedics were also injured.
The Palestinian Red Crescent has alleged Israeli forces barred its crew from entering Al-Aqsa's premises.
Israeli police said nine officers were wounded, with one seeking medical treatment. Police also said a motorist was pelted with stones and lost control of their vehicle, resulting in the occupants sustaining light injuries.
AP reported Israeli authorities have temporarily prohibited Jewish visitors from entering the Al-Aqsa compound on Monday, but have allowed the Jerusalem Day parade—viewed as provocative by the Palestinians—to take place.
Also on Monday, Israel's Supreme Court—citing the near-constant clashes—postponed a hearing that would have determined whether dozens of Palestinians would be evicted from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah.
The looming evictions have led to trending social media hashtags such as #SaveSheikhJarrah, as well as international condemnation. The European Union has deemed the evictions "illegal" and as only serving to "fuel tensions on the ground."
Jordan—which made peace with Israel in 1994 and maintains custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem—condemned Israeli police on Sunday for what it perceived to be "barbaric" treatment of worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Last week, White House spokesperson Ned Price said the U.S. is "extremely concerned" by the clashes in Jerusalem, as well as the potential evictions in Sheikh Jarrah.
"As we have consistently said, it is critical to avoid steps that exacerbate tensions or take us farther away from peace," Price said. "This includes evictions in East Jerusalem, settlement activity, home demolitions, and acts of terrorism."
The White House said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had spoken with his Israeli counterpart Meir Ben-Shabbat to express "serious concerns" over the events unfolding in Jerusalem.
