Israeli police beat, arrest Palestinian woman at Al-Aqsa gates 'for trying to stab border guard'

Israeli security forces reportedly beat and arrested a Palestinian woman for attempting to stab an Israeli border guard stationed at a gate of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Monday night.

The woman arrested was 44 years old and from the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, The New Arab's sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported a spokesperson for the Israeli police as saying.

She wielded a knife and attempted to stab the guard, who arrested her, the police spokesperson said.

Eyewitnesses told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the woman had been brutally beaten during the arrest.

Local media posted video showing the arrest and said the incident had taken place near the Al-Aqsa gate of Bab Hutta.

In the video, a person can be seen being pinned down by two Israeli security personnel. The New Arab could not independently verify the footage.

The beating and arrest sparked angry protest from local Palestinians, some of whom were assaulted by Israeli police, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

Al-Aqsa is considered Islam's third holiest site and the most holy Muslim religious site in Palestine. Israeli settlers have regularly raided the site for close to two decades, inflaming tensions with Palestinians.

On Tuesday, dozens of settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the Palestinian Authority's WAFA news agency reported.

The settlers were led in their storming by extremist American-Israeli rabbi Yehudah Glick, WAFA said. They performed Jewish rituals and prayers.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which Jews believe contains the ruins of their two ancient temples, is stormed on a regular basis by far-right Israeli activists. Some of the extremists wish to demolish the mosque and build a temple in its place.

Under the decades-old "status quo", Israel allows Jews to visit the site – which is under the custodianship of Jordan – only if they refrain from religious rites.

There are fears storming of the compound could increase in the run-up to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, as has happened in previous years.