Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has called on the Palestinian masses to intensify protests in response to the Israeli regime crimes against occupied al-Quds (Jerusalem) and al-Aqsa Mosque.

In a statement, Hamas stressed the need for an urgent action regarding the Israeli aggressions on al-Aqsa Mosque and crack down on the Muslim worshipers.

Hamas urged the Palestinians to intensify presence across at major areas occupied by the Israeli regime and protest over incessant crimes against al-Aqsa and other holy sites.

The resistance movement further called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take serious steps so as to denounce the Israeli regime for its violations in occupied al-Quds. Hundreds of Muslim worshipers performed Sunday's noon prayer near al-Asbat Gate, outside holy al-Aqsa Mosque, after they refused to enter the site via metal detectors set up by the Israeli forces.

The flashpoint compound, which includes the al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as-Sakhrah) in occupied al-Quds, was reopened on midday Sunday after the Israeli regime closed it on Friday.

The Israeli regime closed the site shortly after an anti-occupation attack launched by Palestinians left two Israeli regime troops dead. During the incident, Israeli regime troops killed three Palestinians. In the aftermath of the shootout, Israeli regime closed the mosque and installed metal detectors and additional cameras while banning Muslims from holding Friday prayers.

This closure, for the first time since 1969, ignited anger across the Muslim world. Muslims have refused to enter reopened al-Aqsa Mosque protesting newly imposed Israeli security measures, including metal detectors and cameras. Palestinians described the metal detectors as violation of their right to freedom of worship and their right to enter the mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, freely.

Israeli forces had installed a total of nine metal detectors at the Lions' Gate (Bab al-Asbat), the Chain Gate (Bab al-Silsila), and the Council Gate (Bab al-Majlis).

Palestinians performed dawn prayers outside of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Monday to show their opposition to new repressive security measures by Israeli authorities at the mosque's entrances. Zionist settlers were again allowed to enter the compound freely without the presence of Al-Aqsa's guards.

The Israeli regime occupied East al-Quds during the 1967 war. It later annexed the city in 1980, claiming all of al-Quds as the regime's eternal capital -- a move never recognized by the international community.

Sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, al-Quds is home to the al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site after Mecca and Medina.