France accused Israel on Thursday of harming bilateral ties after Israeli security forces entered a holy site under French administration in Jerusalem and briefly detained two French officials with diplomatic status.

The French foreign ministry says armed Israeli police forced their way into a French-owned church compound in the contested city of Jerusalem, briefly detaining two consulate members and prompting the top French diplomat to abandon his planned visit to the site.

France condemned the brief detention of two consulate members after it said Israeli police forced their way into a French-owned holy site in Jerusalem, in what is the latest diplomatic spat in a series of events that have sent relations between the two plummeting.

France's foreign minister refused to enter a holy site under French administration in Jerusalem on Thursday due to the presence of Israeli security forces, who briefly arrested two French officials in the latest rift between the two countries.