Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated against the use of metal detectors outside the holiest Muslim site in the country, following a lethal attack on Israeli security forces late last week.

Photos by Faiz Abu Rmeleh and Oren Ziv, text by Oren Ziv

A Palestinian child rides his bike outside the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. Israeli authorities erected metal detectors at the entrances to the compound in the wake of a deadly attack against Israeli security forces by three Palestinian citizens of Israel the week before. (Activestills.org)

Hundreds of Palestinian worshippers held a mass prayer outside the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem’s Old City on Sunday, after Israeli authorities forced them to pass through metal detectors at the entrance to the compound’s gates.

Dozens of Muslim worshippers hold a mass prayer outside the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, July 16, 2017. (Activestills.org)

The measure was put in place after the area was closed off for nearly three days, following a lethal attack by three Palestinian citizens last Friday morning, which killed two Israeli police officers at the entrance gates to the holy site. Authorities quickly sealed off all entrances to the compound, the first time in decades it was closed on a Friday, as well as the streets leading to the Old City. Security forces reopened the site to Muslim worshippers on Sunday and to non-Muslims on Monday.

Clashes erupt between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces after authorities sealed off the entrance to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif following a deadly attack on Israeli police officers last week, Jerusalem, July 16. (photo: Activestills.org)

The attempt to place metal detectors at the entrance to the holiest Muslim site in the country was seen by many Palestinians as a cynical move that was meant to exploit instability and change the status quo at the compound.

Israeli police attack a Palestinian protester during clashes following the closure of the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif to worshippers, in the wake of a deadly attack on Israeli security forces by Palestinian citizens the week before, July 16, 2017, Jerusalem. (Activestills.org)

Under the status quo, established after Israel captured the site during the 1967 War, Haram al-Sharif, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, is managed by the Waqf, an Islamic foundation under the auspices of Jordan. Israel maintains control over access to the site.

The Waqf called on Muslims “to reject and boycott all the Israeli aggression measures, including changing the historical status quo including imposing the metal detectors.” Throughout the day, hundreds took part in prayers and protests were held outside the gates leading to the compound as well as in the streets leading to the Old City.

Palestinian worshippers hold evening prayers outside the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, July 16, 2017. (Activestills.org)

A local Palestinian journalist said that the residents did not understand why they were being forced to pay the price for something they did not do. “I don’t understand why they are shutting down the Old City, when tens of thousands of people live here, adding that “those who carried out the attack are from Umm al-Fahm. I don’t understand why they are punishing all the worshippers.”

According to Israel Radio, 10 people were injured and three were arrested for throwing stones in overnight scuffles with security forces close to the Old City’s Lion’s Gate, near one of the Temple Mount’s nine entrances.

On Monday afternoon, clashes broke out in the Old City when police ordered a group of Muslim protesters off a road which they were trying to block with a prayer session.