Violence between Palestinian rioters and Israeli security forces renewed on Friday afternoon after some 150,000 worshipers prayed peacefully at Temple Mount on the third Friday prayers of the month of Ramadan.
Following the Friday prayers, rioters began throwing stones toward security forces on the Mount, with a police drone firing stun grenades as a riot control measure in response, Israeli media reported.
Prior to the clashes renewing, some Palestinians reportedly made their way to al-Aqsa Mosque's roof, hoisting the flags of terrorist group Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
Clashes between rioters and police that broke out at dawn were subdued later on in the morning, according to the Israel Police. At approximately 4:00 a.m., hundreds of people, some with their faces covered and carrying Hamas flags, began a riot that included preparing fortifications, throwing stones and shooting fireworks, the Israel Police Jerusalem District said.
Despite the stone-throwing, the police waited for the prayers to commence and the worshipers to disperse. When the rioters' violence intensified and neared the back of the Western Wall, where prayers were ongoing, the police used riot control measures to push the mass back, the police said.
Some of the worshipers unsuccessfully attempted to stop the riots and expel the rioters, police noted.
A police officer was wounded after being hit in the face by a stone and was evacuated.
In addition, at least 27 rioters were injured, out of which 11 were transferred to hospitals, two in serious condition, Arabic media the Palestinian Red Crescent as saying.
Later on Friday, clashes also erupted between IDF forces and Palestinian rioters in the villages of Beit Dajan and Beita, near Nablus, in the West Bank. Some 54 Palestinian rioters were injured during the clashes, Palestinian meia reported.
Police brace for further riots
Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai arrived at the site later Friday morning and on the way held a situational assessment with all of the police's district chiefs and heads of branches, the police said. Shabtai decided to put Border Police reservists on immediate standby for recruitment depending how the situation continues to develop. He also ordered regional command headquarters to be on standby both in case riots unfold in their regions or if they are needed as backup elsewhere.
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