Jerusalem, September 21 (RHC)-- Israeli regime forces have detained nearly 40 Palestinians across the occupied territories following a series of clashes over the recent Israeli violations of of the holy al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israeli police sources confirmed on Sunday that they had arrested at least a dozen Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and 27 others in East Jerusalem over the previous two days.

Palestinian protesters clashed with Tel Aviv regime forces in several cities across the occupied territories in a “day of rage” to denounce the Israeli acts of aggression against worshipers at the holy compound.

The arrests came days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed tougher penalties and “war” on Palestinian protesters. The Israeli premier said at an emergency meeting on Wednesday that Israel plans to broaden the mandate of its forces following clashes between them and Palestinian protesters in and around the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied West Bank.

The brutal assaults against Palestinians at the holy compound started last Sunday following the deployment of Israeli soldiers to the area for the Jewish Rosh Hashanah New Year holiday. However, Tel Aviv regime forces had already applied sweeping restrictions on entries into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound since August 26.

Israel’s latest aggression has drawn widespread international criticism and condemnation.