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© AFPPalestinian women shout slogans in front of Israeli forces during a protest in al-Quds (Jerusalem), September 20, 2015.
Israeli regime forces have detained nearly 40 Palestinians across the occupied territories following a series of clashes over the recent Israeli violations of the holy al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israeli police sources confirmed on Sunday that they had arrested at least a dozen Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and 27 others in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) over the previous two days.

Palestinian protesters on Friday clashed with Tel Aviv regime forces in several cities across the occupied territories in a "day of rage" to denounce the Israeli acts of aggression against worshipers at the holy compound.

The arrests came days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed tougher penalties and "war" on Palestinian protesters. The Israeli premier said at an emergency meeting on Wednesday that Israel plans to broaden the mandate of its forces following clashes between them and Palestinian protesters in and around the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied West Bank.

The brutal assaults against Palestinians at the holy compound started last Sunday following the deployment of Israeli soldiers to the area for the Jewish Rosh Hashanah New Year holiday. However, Tel Aviv regime forces had already applied sweeping restrictions on entries into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound since August 26.

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© AFPPalestinians argue with an Israeli policeman blocking a road leading to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in al-Quds, September 20, 2015.
Israel's latest aggression has drawn widespread international criticism and condemnation.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, recently condemned the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its inaction over the recent Israeli aggression.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier denounced the incursions by Israeli forces and settlers into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque complex. "Muslim and Christian holy places in East Jerusalem are a red line," said Abbas, adding, "We will not stand idly by before these assaults."

Izzat al-Rishq, a leading member of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, has also described the storming of the mosque compound as a "war crime."

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds, is a holy Islamic site. The location of the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism.