Tens of thousands of Palestinians performed noon prayers on Friday in Jerusalem streets after the Israeli occupation forces slapped tough restrictions at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Palestinian masses prayed in congregation in Salah al-Deen Street al-Amoud Gate al-Asbat Gate Ras al-Amoud and Wadi al-Jouz after they were banned by the Israeli forces from reaching al-Aqsa Mosque.
Heavily-armed Israeli police troops showed up at the scene and cracked down on the worshipers.
At the same time only those aged above 50 years old were spotted in the plazas of holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Speaking during Friday’s Khutbah (sermon) Jerusalem’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Muhammed Hussein slammed the Israeli measures and bans against the Muslim worshipers.
Earlier in the day the Israeli police enforced age restrictions on worshipers at al-Aqsa allowing only those aged above 50 to enter the site.
Buses carrying worshipers from Palestinian villages in territories occupied in 1948 (Israel) were also forced to return back.
According to the media chief at Jerusalem’s Islamic Awqaf Department Firas al-Dabs only 10000 Palestinians were allowed to pray at al-Aqsa.
He added that the Israeli police targeted worshipers in Wadi al-Jouz with sound bombs.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said a worshiper was treated for rubber bullet wounds near al-Sahira Gate in the Old City.
Muslim worshipers have been denied access into al-Aqsa Mosque for the third week running.
On Friday July 14 the Israeli forces shut down the doors of al-Aqsa following a shootout that took away the lives of three Palestinian young men and two Israeli police officers.
