More than 200 Palestinians were injured in a night of heavy fighting between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and elsewhere in Jerusalem, according to medics, as the city braced for even more violence after weeks of unrest.
Nightly demonstrations erupted at the start of Ramadan over police restrictions at a common meeting spot, and they have flared up again in recent days over the possibility of eviction of thousands of Palestinians from their homes in east Jerusalem, which is claimed by both sides in the decades-long conflict.
The violence at Al-Aqsa exploded as thousands of Muslim worshippers were offering evening prayers at the sprawling hilltop esplanade when Israeli police in riot gear deployed in large numbers.
Large numbers of demonstrators were seen throwing rocks during the night as Israeli police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades. The police entered one of the complex's buildings, which includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and the famous golden Dome of the Rock, at one point.
88 people were hospitalized, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 83 people were injured by rubber-coated bullets, including three people who were shot in the eye, two people who suffered severe head injuries, and two people who had their jaws broken.
Protesters allegedly threw bricks, flares, and other items at Israeli police, injuring 17 officers, half of whom were hospitalized. "Any violent protests, demonstrations, and attacks on our forces will be met with a heavy hand," it said late Friday in a tweet.
The Al-Aqsa mosque complex is Islam's third holiest site. It is also the holiest site for Jews, who call it the Temple Mount because it is where the biblical temples were built. It's been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for years, and it was the epicenter of the Palestinian intifada, or rebellion, in 2000.
The Islamic endowment that governs Al-Aqsa said that 70,000 worshippers attended the site's final midday Friday prayers of Ramadan. Following that, thousands of people demonstrated, waving Hamas green flags and shouting pro-Hamas slogans.
Israel closed off a common meeting place where Palestinians usually socialize at the end of their daylong fast at the start of Ramadan in mid-April. Israel imposed the limits for two weeks before lifting them.
However, in recent days, protests have erupted in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, over Israel's threat to evict thousands of Palestinians who are entangled in a long legal battle with Israeli settlers trying to acquire land in the region.
The US expressed "strong concern" about the violence as well as the looming evictions, and said it was in touch with leaders on both sides to try to de-escalate tensions.
The US State Department said in a statement that "it is important to avoid measures that escalate tensions or move us further away from peace." "Evictions in East Jerusalem, settlement activity, home demolitions, and acts of terrorism are all examples of this."
The European Union urged restraint as well. It expressed "grave concern" about the possible evictions, saying that such activities are "illegal under international humanitarian law and only serve to exacerbate tensions on the ground."
Jordan, which made peace with Israel in 1994 and is the custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, which restored relations with Israel last year in a deal brokered by the United States, have condemned Israel's actions.
More violence is expected in the coming days between Israelis and Palestinians.
