The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) decided not to allow Palestinian elderly worshipers from the besieged Gaza Strip to travel to Jerusalem to attend the Friday khutba and prayer today November 11.
The Israeli decision has excluded 100 employees working for the UNRWA in Gaza according to a spokesman for the Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs (GACA).
The spokesman Mohamed Maqadmeh said the Israeli side informed the civil affairs authority in Gaza that it had cancelled the travel of 150 citizens from Gaza to Jerusalem on Friday.
The IOA claims it has taken this decision because the Gazan passengers are not committed to leaving Jerusalem for Gaza on the same day.
Every Friday the IOA allows 250 Gazan over age 50 to visit the Old City of Jerusalem to pray at the Aqsa Mosque.
150 of these passengers enter Jerusalem in coordination with the GACA while the UNRWA coordinates the travel of 100 others working for it in Gaza.
