Police worked to break up a brawl between teenagers that broke out at the Damascus Gate on Thursday night as hundreds of revelers filled the area to celebrate the second night of Ramadan.
Israel Police announced that a brawl broke out between groups of young Palestinians at the scene. The police entered the area and separated the groups in an attempt to restore the peace. One suspect was arrested.
Video published by the police showed groups of teenagers brawling at the scene before police entered the plaza and separated the groups.
Palestinian media claimed that Israeli security forces attacked young men at the Damascus Gate and damaged the stalls of vendors, without mentioning the brawl.
Video published by Palestinian media from the scene showed a small group of individuals fighting and crowds of teenagers fleeing as police entered the area. The video of teenagers running did not include audio.
The violence and portrayal of the incident as an attack by Israeli forces on worshippers by Palestinian media come as police are working to keep the peace ahead of the first Friday of Ramadan.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers are expected to arrive in Jerusalem and at al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers. In past years, violent clashes have broken out during the Friday prayers.
Ahead of Ramadan
Ahead of Ramadan, the police noted that efforts to spread material inciting residents of Jerusalem to violence, including rumors and disinformation concerning holy sites, intensify during Ramadan every year.
The police called on the public to stand against attempts to incite violence and not to listen to false publications. The police stressed that the status quo on the Temple Mount and at all the holy sites in the city will be upheld.
The police announced on Thursday that a reinforcement of over 2,300 police officers and Border Police officers will be deployed in Jerusalem on Friday to maintain the peace, alongside the hundreds of police officers who operate routinely in the city.
"Israel Police will continue to act to allow the many worshipers to visit the holy sites safely. We call on the public to respect the holiday and others, to celebrate, pray and observe the holiday according to the law and obey the police officers' instructions," said police.
Last year, the first Friday prayers of Ramadan passed peacefully, although on the second Friday of Ramadan, violent clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli forces on the Temple Mount. One hundred and fifty Palestinians and eight Israel Police officers were injured in the clashes. Additional violence broke out repeatedly throughout the remainder of Ramadan.