OCCUPIED JERUSALEM – At least 15 Palestinians were injured Sunday, February 28, when Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest shrine.

“The police were provoking people,” Abdul Azim Samhadana, the head of the Palestinian Awqaf, told Haaretz.

Occupation troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinian worshippers hurling stones at Jewish extremists trying to get into the compound.

The clashes left at least 15 Palestinians and two soldiers injured. Seven people were also arrested.

Israeli police said around 1,000 “tourists” had visited the compound in the morning.

Adnan al-Husseini, the Palestinian-appointed governor of Al-Quds, said Palestinians spent the night at Al-Aqsa Mosque out of concern Jewish extremists were planning to enter the holy site.

Al-Aqsa is the Muslims’ first Qiblah [direction Muslims take during prayers] and it is the third holiest shrine after Al Ka`bah in Makkah and Prophet Muhammad's Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Its significance has been reinforced by the incident of Al Isra'a and Al Mi'raj — the night journey from Makkah to Al-Quds and the ascent to the Heavens by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him).

Jews claim that their alleged Temple of Solomon exists underneath the Muslim holy place and want to destroy it to build their temple.