Jerusalem: Witnesses claim that Israeli police attacked dozens of worshippers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem before dawn on Wednesday. Israeli police claimed that the attacks were in response to rioting.

In response to sirens sounding in southern towns, the incident sparked demonstrations throughout the occupied West Bank, and the Israeli military reported that nine rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel.

Since last year, there has been an increase in violence in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and this month, when the Jewish holiday of Passover and the Christian holiday of Easter coincide, Ramadan, there is concern that tensions may rise even further.

Also Read: Russian meeting on Ukraine's webcast is not allowed by Britain

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, seven Palestinians were hurt during altercations with Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by beatings and rubber-tipped bullets. It added that Israeli authorities were obstructing

An elderly woman, gasping for air outside the mosque, told Reuters, "I was sitting on a chair reciting (the Qur'an)." She cried out, "They threw stun grenades, one of them hit my chest."

In a statement, Israeli police claimed that they were compelled to enter the property because masked agitators had barricaded themselves inside the mosque with fireworks, sticks, and stones.

Also Read: Trump is accused of using a hush-money scheme to improve his chances in the 2016 election

The statement added that a police officer was hurt in the leg and stated that when the police entered, "stones were thrown at them and fireworks were fired from inside the mosque by a large group of agitators."

Violence has recently broken out at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Israeli attacks on worshippers were denounced by Palestinian organisations as crimes. According to Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, "We warn the occupation against crossing red lines at holy sites, which will lead to a big explosion."

Both Jordan and Egypt, who have recently participated in US-backed initiatives to defuse tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, released statements denouncing the incident.

Also Read: In the centre of the most recent Donald Trump legal controversy, who is the Iraqi attorney?

Videos showing fireworks going off and police beating people inside the mosque were circulating on social media, though Reuters could not immediately confirm them.

According to the Israeli military, nine rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, at least four of which were intercepted, and the remaining four reportedly fell in open spaces.