Palestinian killed in clashes over Jerusalem shrine row

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Israel's police confirmed that a Palestinian youth was killed in clashes in East Jerusalem on Friday during mass protests over Israeli restrictions on Muslims' access to al-Aqsa mosque.

According to the Palestinian Ma'an news agency, 17-year-old Muhammad Mahmoud Sharaf from the neighborhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem was shot dead by a Jewish settler.

Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement that the youth was injured during clashes and was evacuated to East Jerusalem hospital al-Maqasid where he died of his wounds.

Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian man following clashes outside Jerusalem's Old City, July 21, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Samri did not elaborate on the circumstances of Sharaf's death.

He was buried shortly after death, the spokeswoman said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that a Palestinian died after being shot in the head in an east Jerusalem neighborhood near the Old City on Friday. The ministry however did not specify who was behind the shooting.

A taxi is damaged during clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian demonstrators outside Jerusalem's Old City, July 21, 2017. /VCG Photo

Clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians erupted around Jerusalem's Old City on Friday over new security measures at a highly sensitive holy site.

The unrest came after Israeli ministers decided not to order the removal of metal detectors erected at entrances to the Haram al-Sharif mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, following an attack nearby a week ago that killed two policemen.

Palestinians carry a wounded man during clashes with Israeli security forces outside Jerusalem's Old City, July 21, 2017. /VCG Photo

In anticipation of protests on Friday, Israeli police barred men under 50 from entering Jerusalem's Old City for prayers, while all women were allowed in.

(Source: Xinhua, AFP)

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