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by IMEMC & Agencies

Tuesday evening [September 24, 2013] Palestinian medical sources in Jerusalem have reported dozens of residents suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, and at least two have been kidnapped following clashes with the Israeli army and police in occupied East Jerusalem.

The clashes took place as hundreds of Palestinians marched to protest a procession by extremist Israeli settlers who have been trying to break into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Maan News Agency has reported.

Maan said that hundreds of Israeli police officers, and soldiers, surrounded Bab Al-‘Amoud area, and declared it a closed military zone, while hundreds of police officers and soldiers formed human chains preventing Palestinian protesters from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque area.

Palestinian medical sources said that the soldiers and police attacked the Palestinian protesters as they marched chanting against the occupation, and the attack carried out by Israeli extremists who tried to break into the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The sources added that the soldiers used excessive force against the residents, fired gas bombs and concussion grenades leading to dozens of injuries among the residents.

Furthermore, Israeli sources said that a settler woman from the Kidmat Tzion illegal settlement, in occupied East Jerusalem, was mildly injured after being hit by a stone thrown by a Palestinian protester.

The sources added stones hurled by Palestinian protesters caused damages to at least ten Israeli vehicles in the area.

The Israeli police also decided to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslim worshipers on Tuesday, an issued that led to further tension.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli soldiers kidnapped four students of the Abu Dis University, in occupied East Jerusalem.

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JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Tuesday in clashes with Israeli police in Jerusalem.

Medics said that around 40 people were injured by rubber-coated steel bullets and stun grenade shrapnel. The injured included there women, medics, and photographer Suleiman Khader who was struck with a stun grenade in the chest. Twelve people were taken to the hospital; others were treated at the scene.

Fifteen Palestinians including teenagers were arrested by Israeli forces during the clashes.

Israeli forces also assaulted Jerusalem mufti Sheikh Mohammad Hassan and minister of Jerusalem affairs Adnan Husseini, while Fatah leader Hatem Abdel Kader was hit with shrapnel in the face.