Muslim worshippers protest outside Jerusalem's Old City, on July 25, 2017. Hundreds of Muslims stayed away from Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque on Tuesday despite Israel had removed metal detectors from the site, saying the move does not fulfill the requirement of Muslim worshippers. (Xinhua/Muammar Awad)
JERUSALEM, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the police to start checking individual visitors to East Jerusalem's shrine using hand-held metal detectors, officials said Wednesday.
The move was the latest in an escalating crisis over the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in East Jerusalem, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount.
"Netanyahu and Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan agreed that due to the security sensitivity, individual security checks with hand-held metal detectors will be made (at the entrances to the site,)" a government statement said.
The announcement came less than a day after Israel had removed the electronic gates that sparked a huge protest and daily violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police that claimed the lives of at least four Palestinians.
Early on Tuesday morning, Israel took away the detectors but the Waqf, a Jordanian Muslim body that administrate the site, rejected the modified security measures, which included CCTV cameras.
The clergies called on worshippers not to enter the shrine and held mass prayers outside the compound.
Violent clashes were reported also on Tuesday night near the Lions' Gate in East Jerusalem's Old City, with "several" Palestinian wounded, according to local media.
