Clashes at Aqsa compound after night of widespread W. Bank protests

Clashes broke out in East Jerusalem as Israeli police barred Palestinian men under 50 from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, the last Friday of Ramadan, a day the holy site is typically packed with worshipers.

Confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli police are ongoing at Hatta Gate and Council Gate, two of the entrances to the mosque, a Ma'an reporter said.

Earlier Friday, a Palestinian youth was seriously injured after being hit by a rubber-coated bullet in the head near Al-Aqsa.

The youth was taken to Hadassa Ein Karem for treatment.

Demonstrators marched from East Jerusalem toward the Old City late Thursday, but were met by Israeli police officers, who fired rubber-coated bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, skunk water, and pepper spray.

Store owners in the area closed their shops after Israeli forces hit them with skunk water, a foul-smelling liquid often used to disperse protesters.

Palestinians were able to breach the police barriers at entrances to Al-Aqsa, and hundreds entered the compound.

At least 40 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces during the clashes across Jerusalem.

Israeli police detained 40 Palestinians overnight, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted.

"Throughout last night's disturbances in Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem, police arrested 40 Arab suspects," he said.

He added that 29 policemen were lightly injured in clashes.