Tensions escalated today in occupied Jerusalem as Israeli occupation forces once again suppressed worshipers attempting to reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the weekly Friday prayers, marking the sixth consecutive Friday of such restrictions.
Thousands of worshipers were subsequently prevented from entering the mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, marking the sixth Friday that the Israeli occupation forces limit the number of worshipers allowed into the holy site to only a few hundreds.
WAFA correspondent reported that Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets towards worshipers in Wadi Al-Joz neighborhood and near the Asbat Gate, preventing them from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque. The forces pursued and physically assaulted several worshipers.
Despite the heavy military presence and strict security measures imposed by the occupation forces on access to the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque, a small number of worshipers managed to reach the holy site to perform Friday prayers.
This
marks the sixth consecutive Friday where Israeli occupation forces have suppressed worshipers, preventing them from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque. The harsh measures have led to confrontations between Israeli police and worshipers, with confrontations erupting at the Asbat Gate, where worshipers attempted to push through barriers in a bid to access Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Footage circulating on the social media showed the yards of the holy site almost empty of any worshipers, which is an abnormal situation on a Friday where usually tens of thousands of worshipers would enter the holy site to pray.
Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA – English