Jordan, which has custodian rights over Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, condemned the Israeli army on Sunday calling their defense during an Arab mob riot on the holy site an “attack.” 

Egypt, the only other Arab country to have signed a peace treaty with the Jewish state, also condemned Israeli actions at the Temple Mount, which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews.

“The Jordanian government condemns the assault carried out by special forces of the Israeli occupation army against the Al-Aqsa mosque compound,” Information Minister Mohammed Momani said.

He accused Israel of “provocations” and “attempts to change the status quo” at Judaism’s holiest site.

Under the current status quo, Jews are permitted to visit the esplanade but not to pray there for fear it would cause friction with Muslim worshippers.

Earlier Sunday, masked Muslim rioters hurled rocks and fireworks at police on the Temple Mount, as well as firebombs near two entrances to the site. Jerusalem District Police and Border Police were forced to respond with riot dispersal measures. 

Despite defending themselves from rioters, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the police’s use of tear gas and sound bombs as an “unacceptable escalation against Muslim holy places in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

The Temple Mount is the site of frequent clashes. In late July, Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the site as they clashed with Muslims angered by Jews’ access to the compound on Tisha Ba’av. 

Israeli security forces also entered the mosque last November, prompting Jordan to recall its ambassador for three months in protest.

AFP contributd to this report.