Police prevents thousands of worshippers from entering Al-Aqsa…and praying in the streets
Thousands of Palestinians were denied entrance to Al-Aqsa Mosque and were prevented from performing the Friday prayer as the police prevented men under the age of 45 from entering under the pretext of “preventing acts against law and order”. The Israeli police announced on Thursday night that it will prevent men under the age of 45 (holders of Israeli blue ID) from entering Al-Aqsa to perform the Friday prayer. The young men performed the Friday prayer in the streets leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque and at the gates of the old city of Jerusalem and gates of Al-Aqsa; the police, borders police, Special Forces and Calvary units were deployed in all the areas where the prayer was performed. The police closed the intersections using iron barriers, police cars, water cannon vehicles and red tape; helicopters were also monitoring from the sky. Clashes broke out between the young men and the Israeli forces at Hutta gate after they assaulted an old man while he was trying to enter Al-Aqsa along with his son. Minor clashes also broke out at Ras Al-Amood, Damascus gate and Wad Al-Joz where stones were thrown.
