OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC)– The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Friday tightened their restrictions on the movement of Palestinian worshipers in occupied Jerusalem which led to a state of tension in the city especially before the Friday prayers.
Local sources said that dozens of Jerusalemites were forced to perform Dawn prayers on streets around the Aqsa Mosque after Israeli authorities prevented men under age 50 from entering the Islamic holy place.
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers and policemen were deployed across east Jerusalem while military checkpoints were created at the entrances to the Old City.
Meanwhile the Israeli army and police tightened t their security measures at all main crossings and checkpoints around Jerusalem and barred all West Bankers even those who hold permits from entering the holy city.
In another incident the IOF at dawn Friday raided and searched a number of homes in different areas of al-Khalil including the house of ex-detainee Ayman Sharawna’s brother in Deir Sammit town.
Sharawna family members were held in one room of the house for long hours as the invading troops were ransacking it.
The IOF also raided an ex-detainee’s home in Beit Ummar town to the north of the city amid heavy firing of tear gas and stun grenades.
They also restricted movement of Palestinian citizens at the entrances to Beit Awwa town to the south of al-Khalil and at the entrance to Yabud town in the southwest of Jenin.
