JERUSALEM, (Reuters) -At most 152 Palestinians were hurt in clashes against Israeli riot police in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. This is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have raised concerns about a return to wider violence.

According to the Palestine Red Crescent, most of the Palestinian injuries occurred from stun guns, rubber bullets, and beatings by police batons. These were all at the most vulnerable site in decades-old Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Israeli security forces were on high alert following a number of Arab street attacks in Israel over the past 2 weeks. There is a risk that confrontations at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound, Jerusalem’s walled Old City could lead to a wider conflagration similar to last year’s Gaza War.

The Al-Aqsa compound is located on the Old City plateau in East Jerusalem. It was taken by Israel during the 1967 Middle East War.

Ramadan, which coincides with Passover in the Jewish calendar, has contributed to tensions.

Israeli police stated that hundreds of Palestinians had hurled stones and firecrackers at the forces, and towards the Jewish prayer space of the Western Wall of the Old City following Ramadan’s morning prayers.

The report stated that police entered Al-Aqsa’s compound to “disperse (and push back) the crowd and enable the rest worshippers leave the site safely.” The clashes also left three police officers with injuries.

According to a statement by Naftali Bennett, the spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, hundreds of Palestinians were taken into police custody.

We are working hard to bring back calm on the Temple Mount as well as across Israel. Bennett added that security forces and we have prepared for all scenarios.

A Palestinian official stated that Egypt, Qatar and United Nations increased their mediation between Palestinian factions – headed by Hamas Islamist Group, which runs Gaza – and Israel to avoid further violence.

Hamas demanded Israel to release the nearly 500 Palestinians it detained Friday. They also requested that Jewish groups stop making “provocative visits” to Al-Aqsa mosque and cease military incursions into West Bank towns.

According to Palestinians, Israel freed all except 100 people detained as a sign that tensions are being eased.

In reference to the violence within the holy compound, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that Israel was “fully and directly liable for this crime” and all its consequences.

‘FLAGRANT VIOLATION’

Nabil Abu Rudeineh spoke for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abdul Abbas, who is responsible for self-rule areas within the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He said that international action should be taken immediately to “stop Israeli aggression towards Al-Aqsa mosque” and stop things from spiraling out of control.

Jordan, whose Hashemite monarchy custodians the Christian and Muslim holy places in East Jerusalem, called the Israeli raid into the compound “a flagrant violation”.

Israel acknowledged the Hashemite’s role as the custodian for Al-Aqsa under the 1994 peace treaty between the countries. The country maintains total security control of the site.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said that tensions must be reduced. He said that he called on both sides to show restraint and avoid provocation and rhetoric and maintained the historical status quo regarding the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.

Tor Wennesland was the U.N. special representative for Middle East peacemaking. He urged all parties to help “calm the situation”, avoid inflaming rhetoric, and voice their disapproval of those trying to escalate it.

Nightly clashes occurred last year between Israeli police and Palestinians during Muslim Fasting Month. A threat of Palestinian displacement in East Jerusalem as well as raids on Al-Aqsa by Israeli police sparked an 11-day Israel-Gaza War that resulted in the deaths of more than 250 Palestinians living in Gaza, along with 13 others in Israel.

After 14 Israelis were killed in an attack on Israeli cities, Palestinian terrorists attacked Israel’s West Bank and killed Israeli soldiers.

Al-Aqsa (third holiest spot in Islam) is revered by Jews for its location of the two old temples.

Israel holds Jerusalem and all its holy sites as the capital of its future state. Palestinians want to declare East Jerusalem (including its holy places for Jews, Christians, and Muslims) the capital of their future state.