Ramallah — Groups of Israeli extremist settlers early Sunday stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem, a Palestinian source confirmed.

General Director of the Islamic Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib said that the raid by dozens of Jewish settlers was carried out through Al-Magharebah Gate and under heavy protection of Israeli special forces and police.

Extremist settlers provocatively toured Al-Aqsa yards, Al-Khatib added.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops on Sunday arrested 16 Palestinians in various West Bank cities, according to a Palestinian source.

The Palestinian Prisoners' Society said in a statement that Israeli soldiers stormed the cities of Tulkarem, Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jenin and arrested 16 citizens.

Israeli soldiers claimed that the detained Palestinians have participated in throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the army patrols. — Agencies