Explained | Why is the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound a flashpoint for the Israel-Palestine conflict?

Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday, April 17, which led to another round of clashes with Palestinians

The story so far: In the latest bout of tensions between the Israel government and Palestinians, at least 152 Palestinians were injured in clashes with the Israeli police in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Friday, April 15. The Israeli forces fired rubber bullets, stun grenades, and baton-charged the Palestinians, who the forces said hurled stones and firecrackers at them and toward the Jewish prayer area of the Western Wall.

The Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said after the incident: “We are working to restore calm, on the Temple Mount and across Israel. Alongside that, we are preparing for any scenario and the security forces are ready for any task.”

This was followed by another incident on Sunday, April 17, which left 17 Palestinians injured in clashes when the Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa compound to secure the way for Jewish visitors.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also referred to as Temple Mount by the Jews, has been the most sensitive site in the Israel-Palestine conflict as both sides have made rival claims over it.

The site in East Jerusalem is holy for two of the three monotheistic world religions — Islam and Judaism.

According to the Islamic scripture, Masjid al-Aqsa, meaning the farthest mosque, is where Prophet Muhammad reached at the end of his night journey, or Isra, from the sacred mosque of Makkah.

The Al-Aqsa compound or Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary), hosts four important structures — the mosque itself, the Islamic shrine called the Dome of the Rock, the four minarets, and the gates of the compound.