Israeli police say they have arrested seven Palestinians over suspected involvement in violence at Jerusalem Al-Aqsa mosque the previous day.
Spokeswoman Luba Samri said on Tuesday that the suspects were connected to Monday's riots in which Palestinians barricaded themselves inside a mosque at the site and then threw firebombs and rocks at officers outside during a major Jewish holiday.
Israeli settlers and politicians have stormed Al-Aqsa on a number of occasions in the last few weeks to uphold their "religious rights" to pray at the Temple of Mount.
In mid-September, Israeli police had stormed the courtyard of the mosque after dawn prayers and fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at Palestinian worshipers leaving dozens wounded hours before the start of the Jewish New Year, according to AFP.
Muslims revere Al-Aqsa as the Noble Sanctuary, where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 war. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as its capital – a declaration not recognised by the international community.
On Thursday, Israel's security cabinet broadened the rules under which stone-throwers can be targeted by live fire, a statement from the prime minister's office said.
"The security cabinet has decided to authorise police to use live ammunition against people throwing stones and Molotov cocktails when the life of a third person is threatened and no longer only when the police officer is threatened," said the statement.
*The story was edited by Ahram Online.
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