Arresting three Jerusalemites from Ras Al-Amoud
Hundreds of Palestinians performed the Friday prayer in the streets of Jerusalem after the occupation prevented those under the age of 50 from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque. The worshippers were surprised when the forces prevented Jerusalemites under the age of 50 from performing the Morning and Noon Prayers. The forces established iron barriers at Al-Aqsa Gates and the gates of the Old City and detained the IDs of several people; they also searched those who were allowed to enter Al-Aqsa which looked fairly empty. The roads of the city were also blocked with police cars and water cannon vehicles and then young men were forced to pray in the places where they could reach such as Wad Al-Joz, Ras Al-Amoud, Herod’s and Damascus Gates and Salah Eddin Street; prayers were also held at Al-Aqsa Gates. Clashes at Al-Aqsa Gates Clashes using hands broke out between the worshippers and the Israeli forces that were stationed at Al-Aqsa Gates after they assaulted two young men who attempted to enter Al-Aqsa through Al-Majles Gate. They also sprayed old men with pepper gas near Al-Silsileh Gate which led to the suffocation of 9 men who were treated in Al-Aqsa clinics. The Musta’ribeen (undercover unit) arrested three Jerusalemites after raiding the neighbourhood of Abu Sway in Ras Al-Amoud, among them were 16-year old Naeem Zaghal and 17-year old Hamzeh Al-Ghoul. Wadi Hilweh Information Center pointed out that the Israeli forces tightened the siege on Al-Aqsa since last Sunday (the Hebrew Passover Holiday) and had broken into it twice on Sunday and Wednesday where dozens were injured with rubber bullets and suffocated from pepper gas. The forces also prevented Muslims from performing the Morning Prayer in the last few days in order to allow the setters to break-in and carry out their tours inside Al-Aqsa courtyards but the Marabouts confronted them and thwarted the intents of the Jewish groups. The paramedics crews said that they were prevented from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday and the Israeli occupation forces deliberately obstructed their work near Al-Aqsa Gates and in the area where group prayers were performed.
