Continued Restrictions on Friday Prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli Forces Prevent Palestinian Entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday Prayers
Israeli forces have once again restricted access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, preventing Palestinian youth and even elderly worshippers from entering for Friday prayers. This has been an ongoing situation for the past 7 weeks, with only about 3,500 Muslims allowed to pray at the mosque due to Israeli obstruction.
The Israeli forces have set up checkpoints with iron barriers in the Old City area, where they carry out identity checks and deny entry to many Palestinians. They have also been known to rough up and detain Palestinian youth who attempt to enter the mosque. This has resulted in hundreds of Palestinians being forced to pray around the Haram Al-Sharif instead.
In the Ra’s al-Amud District, overlooking the Al-Aqsa Mosque, hundreds of Palestinians have lined up in the mosque and on the sidewalks for their prayers. Israeli forces have even used tear gas and stinking water from TOMAs to disperse Palestinian worshippers in the Wadi al-Jawz Neighborhood near the mosque.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the holiest sites in Islam, and the restrictions imposed by Israeli forces have sparked outrage among the Palestinian community. Many see this as a violation of their right to freedom of worship and an attempt to further control and suppress their religious practices.
The situation at the Al-Aqsa Mosque remains tense, with Palestinian worshippers facing ongoing obstacles in exercising their right to pray at one of their most sacred sites. The continued actions of the Israeli forces have only served to escalate tensions in an already volatile region.
