ALBAWABA - In an ongoing development, Israeli occupation forces persist in enforcing limitations around the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, hindering Palestinian access to Friday prayers at the sacred site for the seventh consecutive week since the commencement of Israel's Gaza attacks on October 7.
This week, akin to the preceding weeks, the Israeli police maintained restrictions in the proximity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing Palestinians from participating in the Friday prayers at the revered mosque situated in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Streets in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa were barricaded with iron barriers by Israeli forces, denying entry not only to Palestinian youths but also at times to elderly individuals seeking to attend the Friday prayers.
Traditionally drawing crowds of 100,000 to 150,000 on Fridays, Al-Aqsa Mosque has seen attendance limited to approximately 5,000 individuals for the past six weeks, including the current week, due to Israeli restrictions.
Israeli forces intermittently resorted to physical interventions, including assaults, against Palestinian youths attempting to enter Al-Aqsa.
Those unable to access Al-Aqsa conducted their prayers in the vicinity of the mosque. In the Ra's el-Amud neighborhood, hundreds of Palestinians congregated at a mosque offering a view of Al-Aqsa, while others gathered on the surrounding sidewalks.
In the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood near Al-Aqsa, where Palestinians sought to pray, Israeli forces used tear gas and water cannons emitting foul-smelling water to disperse worshippers.
The deployment of foul-smelling water from water cannons has left a lasting unpleasant odor in the streets surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
