Today, Friday, the Israeli occupation authorities imposed restrictions on the arrival of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank to the city of Jerusalem. To perform the second Friday prayer of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Eyewitnesses said that the occupation army reinforced its forces at the crossings leading to the city of Jerusalem, and checked the identities of the Palestinians and refused entry to some of them.
The occupation police mobilized about two thousand of its members throughout the city, especially in the Old City and its surroundings, and the occupation army strengthened its presence at the military checkpoints between the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The Qalandia crossing, north of Jerusalem, and Checkpoint 300, south of the city, witnessed a great congestion at the entrance gates from the West Bank towards Jerusalem.
The witnesses indicated that the Israeli forces refused entry to a large number of men and women under security pretexts.
One of the Palestinians, Rana Daoud, stated that the Israeli forces did not allow her to enter Jerusalem through the Qalandia military checkpoint, claiming that she was rejected by security forces.
She pointed out that “the Israeli decision claimed to allow the gathering of women to enter the Holy City, but on the ground there are great restrictions.”
In turn, Aman Hussein, the mother of a detainee in Israeli prisons, said that the occupation authorities refused to allow her to enter Jerusalem under the pretext of security.
Hussein denounced the decision of the Israeli forces, and said, “What right does a Palestinian have to prevent from entering the city of Jerusalem and praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque?”
With regard to Gaza, the coordinator of occupation actions in the Israeli government announced that a limited number of Palestinians from the Strip will be allowed to enter Jerusalem, and this will include men over 55 and women over 50.
And last Friday, Israel imposed restrictions on the arrival of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jerusalem to perform the first Friday prayers in the month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa.
Ahead of the holy month, Israel issued a decision regarding the entry of West Bank residents to East Jerusalem to perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Under the decision, the Israeli authorities allow women of all ages, male children up to 12 years old, and men over 55 years old, to access Jerusalem without previous permits, while requiring men from 45 to 55 years old to obtain a permit to pray during Ramadan. The new measures do not include the residents of the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli authorities prohibit their access to Jerusalem except after obtaining special permits.
