Four Palestinians have been injured and another seven detained after Israeli police stormed the al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli security forces on Sunday fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at Palestinians who attempted to prevent a Zionist rally from entering the al-Haram al-Sharif courtyard within the compound on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

Jivara al-Budairi, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Jerusalem, said that a large number of Israeli security units have been seen by residents entering East Jerusalem, where the mosque is located.

"Special forces are still deployed inside the Haram compound yard, but are no longer clashing with the worshippers [Palestinians] inside", estimated to be around a thousand, our correspondent said.

Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman, said two Israeli policemen were also injured in the confrontation.

Also called Day of Atonement,  Jews mark Yom Kippur by fasting and holding prayers.

Military Closure

The police entered after Israeli settlers and Zionist groups attempted to force entry to a part of the complex they call Temple Mount.

Other Israeli settler-activist groups also gathered at the Hetta and Majlis gates, Al Jazeera’s correspondent said.

Last year, a similar incident on the Yom Kippur holiday resulted in damage to dozens of cars and shops.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces have imposed military closure on Palestinian territories starting from Saturday midnight until Monday midnight in view of the religious holiday.

Israel captured the Old City of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it along with the rest of mostly Arab East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by the international  community.

(Aljazeera.net English)