Israeli police arrest five Palestinians at al-Aqsa mosque

Israeli police say they have arrested five Palestinians for allegedly “causing a disturbance” at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

The men took part in a prayer protest Monday outside a section of the hilltop compound of al-Aqsa mosque that has been closed by Israeli court order for over a decade.

Muslim religious officials convened in the closed area last week, and Israeli police placed a lock on a fence in response. Videos purportedly of Monday’s incident show several men damaging the fence.

Any change to the status quo, no matter how minor, has the potential to ignite tensions.