Day 378 Jerusalem during “Al-Aqsa Flood” Operation
On the 378th day of "Al-Aqsa Flood” operation, the occupation authorities prevented hundreds of worshipers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the dawn and Friday prayers, while settlers attacked residents in the Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in the town of Silwan. The raids on towns and neighborhoods in the city of Jerusalem continued, and the forces closed a commercial store in the city.
Restrictions and procedures preventing worshipers from reaching Al-Aqsa
The occupation authorities prevented hundreds of worshipers, "especially young men," from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the dawn and Friday prayers. The forces set up police checkpoints at the gates of Al-Aqsa and the Old City, and also marched their forces in the streets of the city, especially those close to Al-Aqsa Mosque and leading to it.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem reported from the worshipers that the procedures, like all Fridays, are "stopping worshipers - especially young men and boys - randomly and according to the mood of the officer and the police forces." Sometimes they are returned and prevented from entering without any questioning, and sometimes their IDs are checked and a body search is conducted, then they are pushed or beaten and prevented from entering Al-Aqsa.
The worshipers explained that the forces were deployed specifically at Lions Gate (4 checkpoints) before reaching the gates of Al-Aqsa, in addition to the forces deployed at the gates of Al-Aqsa. Also, a checkpoint was set up at Herods Gate and along the road leading to Al-Aqsa, randomly stopping the arrivals, and the same scene on al-Wad Street, the street leading to the gates of al-Aqsa.
The worshipers explained that the forces assaulted the young men in several areas, and forcibly removed them from the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its gates.
The worshipers - after being prevented from entering Al-Aqsa - performed the prayer at the nearest point they were able to reach.
Summons for investigation
The forces detained a number of worshipers and handed them summons for investigation at the Al-Qishla Police Station in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Settlers attack Jerusalemites in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood
Settlers attacked residents in the Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in the town of Silwan.
The settlers fired bullets "in the air" randomly in the neighborhood, while dozens of vehicles and pedestrians were in the street. They also chased those present with beatings and insults, and assaulted one of the young men with the butt of the weapon they had in their possession. They also assaulted an elderly man and closed the road to vehicles.
Eyewitnesses explained that the forces were present at the scene, detained the young men, arrested one of them and transferred him for investigation. They also pointed their weapons at the residents to prevent them from reaching the detainees.
Closure of a commercial facility
The police said in a statement that they closed a commercial facility in Jerusalem for 30 days, under the pretext of "employing workers from Hebron without legal permits."
Friday prayers banned in Silwan tent
The occupation forces stormed the vicinity of the "Silwan sit-in" tent in the Bi’er Ayoub neighborhood in the town, and climbed onto some roofs and spread out at intersections, hours before the time of prayer, after calls were made to hold the prayer in the tent in rejection of the policies of demolition and displacement of residents from their homes in favor of settlement projects.
The police threatened to suppress the youths if they prayed in the tent, and to bring additional forces to the place, under the pretext of "preventing gathering and presence in the place."