This article was originally published by Maan News and is republished with permission.

Clashes broke out in the old city of Jerusalem on Friday as Palestinian Muslim worshippers streamed into the city for Friday prayers and to protest against Israel's ongoing excavations in the environs of the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Israeli forces stormed the Al-Haram Ash-Sharif compound after the Friday noon prayers amid intense gunfire, which resulted in the injury of 15 Palestinians and the arrest of many others. Clashes between the Israeli police forces and the Israeli border guards also resulted in the injury of at least 15 Israeli policemen.

Our Jerusalem correspondent reported that the Israeli forces prohibited Palestinian ambulances from approaching the area to transport the wounded Palestinians. He added that the Israeli forces used live ammunition and tear gas against the protesting Palestinians, after having cut the electricity current to the mosque, thereby disabling the loudspeakers.

Eyewitnesses reported that slight clashes also broke out around Damascus Gate between stone-throwing Palestinian youths and the Israeli police. Two Palestinian youths were seen being arrested by masked Israeli policemen.

Earlier, the Israeli forces imposed a strict military siege on the Palestinian neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah, At-Tur, Silwan and Bab al-Amoud (Damascus Gate) in the holy city of Jerusalem as a precautionary measure against the expected violent protests over the Israeli excavations in the area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered by Muslims to be the third holiest site in the world after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli military and police forces were deployed in large numbers, specifically in the old city and all the gates into the walled old city were closed. Palestinians under 45 years of age were banned from entering the abovementioned Palestinian neighbourhoods and those older than 45 were allowed only to enter on foot.

Palestinians from the occupied West Bank were also barred from entering the city of Jerusalem for Friday prayers, including those with permits.

The 'Al Aqsa Society' had urged all Muslim Palestinians inside Israel to travel to the mosque for the Friday prayers. The society called on them to enter the old city from the Magharbeh ('Moroccan' or 'Dung') gate, which is the gate at the centre of the controversy. The Dung Gate was closed for several years as excavations took place.

The head of the society's media department, Sheikh Khalid Muhanna, said, "This gate is for the Muslims and they have the right to use it. If we follow the Israeli orders and don't use it, the Israelis will understand this to mean we are deserting the mosque. That is why we should enter the city from that gate as it is one of the main gates of the mosque".

Speaking to Ma'an via telephone from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the head of the Palestinian National Initiative political party, Mustapha Barghouthi, said that the Israelis imposed very strict measures on the city. Barghouthi succeeded in entering the mosque compound at 4 am this morning. He urged all Palestinians to travel to the city in order to protect the mosque.

He added that what the Israelis are doing to the mosque is a provocation against the Muslims, not only in Palestine but in the rest of the world. This is another step in the Israeli plans to judaize the city, he added. Barghouthi called on the Arabs and Muslims to act in order to protect the mosque.