Israel radicals may spark 'religious war' if Al-Aqsa status quo changed, Waqf says

A religious war may be sparked if Israeli radicals alter the status quo at occupied East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Jordanian-run body responsible for administering the site cautioned on Saturday.

Radical Jewish organisations have urged the performing of Jewish prayers at and storming of a mosque in the Al-Aqsa compound beginning on Sunday, official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Hardliners have insisted the mosque near Bab Al-Rahmah be made into a Jewish place of worship, a move which would violate the longstanding political and historical agreement on how Jerusalem's religious sites operate.

The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf warned that the radicals' calls "will drag the region into a religious war with ominous consequences" for Israel.

"The people in Jerusalem, Palestine and all Muslims will not hesitate to defend their Mosque," it said.

The body, which also oversees other sacred Islamic sites in the holy city, urged Israeli authorities not to let those "whose aim is to stir up strife and ignite the region" get what they want at Al-Aqsa.

Israeli extremists and security often storm the compound, the third-holiest site in all Islam and most-sacred Muslim place in Palestine.

Israeli forces repeatedly raided Al-Aqsa during Ramadan this year, wounding 150 Palestinians in just one day on 14 April, according to the Red Crescent in Jerusalem.

Security fired stun grenades, tear gas and live bullets as Muslim worshippers gathered.