Israeli forces raided the al-Aqsa mosque compound yesterday, clashing with the Palestinian civilian guards and visiting students in the compound in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Al-Aqsa director-general Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani said Israeli special forces entered the site via the al-Magahribah and al-Silsilah gates and locked the other entrances.

“The occupation forces surrounded a group of of Palestinian students and fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at them,” he said.

A civilian guard at the mosque was injured when a rubber bullet hit him in the face.

Other students were sprayed with pepper gas and at least five required medical aid.

Settlers had put up banners saying that they would raid the compound to mark the Passover festival.

In response, Palestinians put up banners reading: “Over our dead bodies will we allow you to enter our holy mosque to mark your Passover.”