Israeli police detain a Palestinian protester in Jerusalem’s Old City,September 14.

Palestinians clashed with Israeli police at East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for a third straight day on Tuesday, AFP reported.

Young demonstrators gathered around the mosque threw stones at police who had entered the compound in large numbers and who responded with stun grenades.

Clashes first broke out on Sunday, when witnesses said Israeli police entered the mosque and caused damage to prayer mats. Israeli police said they only closed the doors to the mosque to lock in rioters throwing stones, fireworks and other objects.

Meanwhile, Arab leadership have vowed to ‘confront Israeli aggression’ on Aqsa with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir confirming on Monday that movement will be made “at all levels to confront any act of aggression carried out by the Israeli occupation or the Israeli settlers against Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The mosque compound is the site of frequent clashes. In late July, Israeli police entered Al-Aqsa as they clashed with Muslims angered by Jews’ access to the compound on an annual day of Jewish mourning.

Under the current status quo, Jews are permitted to visit the esplanade but not to pray there for fear it would cause friction with Muslim worshippers.