RAMALLAH: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday condemned an attack by Israeli authorities at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem after clashes rocked the site, the third holiest in Islam.

“The presidency strongly condemns the attack by the occupier's military and police against the Al-Aqsa mosque and the aggression against the faithful who were there,” a statement from his office said.

The Zionist aggression against Palestinians raised tensions in the holy city ahead of the Jewish New Year.

Abdelazem Salhab, an official with the Waqf, the Jordanian organization that administers the sensitive compound, accused police of causing “wide damage” inside the mosque. “They crashed many windows and damaged many carpets,” he said.

“Jews have no rights in the mosque and its courtyard,” he said. “The role of Israeli authorities as the occupying power is protecting this site from non-Muslims who plan to take it over, not helping them.”

In Jordan, government spokesman Mohammad Momani called on Israel to end its “provocative acts.”

Authorities cleared people from the site, including members of the Waqf, a Waqf spokesman said.

“It’s the first time that they evacuated all the guards,” Waqf spokesman Firas Al-Dibs said, adding that two had been wounded by rubber bullets. “The director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Omar Kaswani, was injured and arrested.”

Police said calm later returned to the mosque complex, though clashes continued outside in the narrow alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City, with authorities firing tear gas and stun grenades. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 20 people required hospital treatment.

An AFP journalist saw a number of people being detained and heavy police deployments in the Old City. Several news photographers, including one from AFP, were kicked and hit by Israeli police seeking to push back crowds.

Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound, but Jews are forbidden from praying or displaying national symbols for fear of triggering tensions with Muslim worshippers.

Muslims fear Israel will seek to change rules governing the site, with far-right Jewish groups pushing for more access and even efforts by fringe organizations to erect a new temple.