Israeli police forced Muslim worshipers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque to leave after clashes broke out at dawn Sunday. Palestinian worshipers were on an Islamic Itikaf retreat at the holy site. While police forces sought dislodging worshipers, twelve seniors, according to Palestinian officials, were injured. In total 50 worshipers were present at the time of the skirmishes. According to local sources, a large number of police forces stormed the mosque following the Isha and Tarawih prayers and forced worshipers to leave the site. Coinciding with Ramadan, some of the removed worshipers had religious permits to spend the special month’s nights performing Itikaf, the practice of staying multiple nights at a time in a mosque. For Palestinians, Itikaf is a popular and sought after form of devotion which includes performing nafl prayers, reciting the Quran, and reading hadith. Israeli authorities issued a decision to ban Itikaf in Al-Aqsa except on Friday nights and on Laylat al-Qadr, a night which falls mid-Ramadan. The move was met with contempt by Muslim congregations, especially those who are eager to observe Ramadan through the practice. The Israeli measure provoked clashes with dozens of worshipers at the mosque. Contrary to its recent treatment to Muslim worshipers, Israeli forces allowed some 38 Israeli settlers onto the mosque’s site while providing them with maximum reinforced security. While Jewish visitation is permitted to the compound, non-Muslim worship at Al-Aqsa is prohibited according to an agreement signed between Israel and the Jordanian government after Israels illegal occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967. Despite the agreement with Jordan -- which is the custodian of Al-Aqsa -- Israeli authorities regularly allow Jewish visitors to enter the site, often under armed guard. Such visits are typically made by right-wingers attempting to unsettle the status quo at the site, and coincide with restrictions on Palestinian access, including bans on entrance and detentions.