Occupied Jerusalem, Nov 17 (Petra) – Dozens of Israeli settlers and hardliners stormed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif grounds in occupied Jerusalem on Monday under heavy escort by Israeli police, the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem said.

It said the extremists breached the compound in groups through the Mughrabi Gate and performed prayers in the latest provocation against the mosque's guard and worshippers under the watchful eye of Israeli police.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupation troops carried out search-and-arrest raids across Palestinian towns and villages and detained 11 "wanted" Palestinians. The raids touched off clashes with local youth and also saw attacks on property by Jewish settlers.

In the town of Al-Ram, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, two Palestinian youths were shot and wounded by Israeli occupation forces near the separation wall.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its crews treated two wounded young men and transferred them to a hospital for treatment.

//Petra//SS