Ramallah, January 13 (RHC)-- Israeli forces have reportedly shut down the offices of two Palestinian charities in the occupied territories for their alleged links with the Gaza-based resistance movement, Hamas. According to a police statement, Israeli police along with the Shin Bet spy service on Monday stormed the offices of the Palestinian charity organizations, Muslim Women for al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and al-Fajr, in the city of Nazareth in northern Israel.

Israeli police closed down the charities after taking away computers, documents, and bank records at the two offices and arresting a number of people for questioning, the statement said.

The activists in the two Muslim charity institutions were suspected of financing "organizations which identify with Hamas." They are also accused of inciting disturbances at the al-Aqsa mosque, which has witnessed a recent spike in clashes between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli settlers and troops.

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in the Israeli-occupied Old City of Jerusalem, is a flashpoint holy site. The location of the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism. The mosque is Islam's third holiest after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, Saudi Arabia.