Israeli forces make arrests and close Temple Mount after 'firebomb thrown at police station'

There were also unverified reports of Israeli police entering the Dome of the Rock.

After the sanctuaries were temporarily closed, several dozen worshippers gathered just outside the compound for impromptu prayers, as Israeli police stood watch.

The site, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, has been the scene of stand-offs in recent weeks, since an area known as the Gate of Mercy was reopened to Muslim worshippers for the first time since 2003.

Footage circulated through Arab social media sites in recent days showed Israeli forces refusing to remove their shoes in the Bab al-Rahma building and trampling prayer rugs, further exacerbating tensions between Israelis and Arabs.