Israeli police harass and batter praying Palestinian women at Al-Aqsa compound

JERUSALEM, PALESTINE - MAY 5: Israeli police harassed and battered Muslim women who were praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyard in the occupied East Jerusalem, on Thursday, (May 5). Dozens of Israeli settlers guarded by the Israeli police force stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on Thursday morning. The Israeli police, who forced many people to enter the Qibla Masjid, chained the doors of the mosque and imprisoned the worshipers inside. Anadolu Agency video shows Israeli police harassing Palestinian women who were performing prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. Israeli police also assaulted and tried to detain dozens of Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, according to eyewitnesses. “Since the morning prayer, there has been great pressure on those who pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinians prayed in the courtyard of the mosque and performed the morning prayer. From time to time, settlers raided the mosque en masse. With the entry of the settlers, the Israeli security forces intervened to the Palestinians who were praying and performing salaah,” Omar Al-Kiswani, Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque told Anadolu Agency. Eyewitnesses also told Anadolu Agency that a large force of Israeli police fired rubber bullets at dozens of worshipers and chased them to the roof of the Qibla Masjid. Israeli settlement groups have called for large-scale incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the founding anniversary of Israel, which is being marked on Thursday. Al-Aqsa is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times. (Footage by Mucahit Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)