- Muslim worshippers were stopped from entering Al-Aqsa on Sunday, The New York Times reported.
- Israeli police wanted to avoid contact between Muslim and Jewish worshippers, per The AP
- Clashes resulted in over a dozen Palestinians being injured, according to media reports.
More than a dozen Palestinians were injured following clashes with Israeli police, whose officers entered the Al-Aqsa mosque on Sunday to make way for Jewish worshippers, The Associated Press reported.
The New York Times reported that Israeli police stopped Muslim worshipers from entering the mosque for four hours to avoid contact between Muslims and Jews.
At least 18 Palestinians were arrested, according to The Times. The Palestinian Red Crescent, an emergency medical group told the paper that 17 Palestinians were injured including five that were hit by rubber-tipped bullets.
Al-Aqsa is a holy site for Muslims and Jews alike. Jews refer to it as Temple Mount. The tension comes as religious holidays for Muslims, Christians, and Jews — Ramadan, Easter and Passover, respectively — are overlapping in the same month for the first time since 1991.
The Times reported that Palestinians had previously gathered near an entrance used by non-Muslims to enter Al-Aqsa and were blocking part of the route that Jews use to pray near an ancient Jewish temple.
Al Jazeera, citing Israeli police, reported that Palestinians had stockpiled stones and set up barriers in the compound.
The Times reported that reporters witnessed dozens of Muslims being turned away from entering Al-Aqsa at two major entrances to the complex throughout the morning.
Clashes broke out on the side streets around the compound. Police used batons and sound grenades against Muslims trying to enter, and eyewitness footage showed some Palestinians punching and kicking three religious Jews, according to The Times.
The AP reported that Israeli police said Palestinians were "defiling and desecrating" a holy site and Palestinians accused Israel of trying to divide the holy site.
While Jews are allowed to visit the holy site, they aren't allowed to pray there. In recent years, large groups of nationalist and religious Jews have visited the compound with police escorts, which is something Palestinians see as a provocation from Israel, The AP reported.
"What happened in Al-Aqsa Mosque is a dangerous escalation, the repercussions of which are to be borne by the Israeli government alone," Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told The AP.
Sunday's clashes come after 152 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli police on Friday, Reuters reported.