Israeli authorities prevented Palestinian worshipers from performing Friday prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem for the first time since 1969 forcing thousands of them to pray at its gates.
According to the PIC reporter Israeli police closed off sections of the Old City including blocking access to al-Aqsa compound.
Al-Aqsa’s guards are still detained since the morning hours while Adhan (call to prayer) was not raised in the holy shrine our news correspondent added.
Due to the Israeli ban thousands of Palestinians performed Friday prayer at al-Aqsa’s gates and at military checkpoints erected throughout the city amid heavy presence of Israeli police forces.
The occupied city was turned into a military barracks which led to the outbreak of clashes he reported.
Injuries were reported among the worshipers during the clashes while the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Sheikh Muhammad Hussein was detained shortly after delivering the Friday sermon.
Earlier Friday three Palestinian young men were killed in a shootout with Israeli police officers at the Mosque. Two Israeli police officers were pronounced dead.
In the wake of the anti-occupation shooting Israeli authorities banned Friday prayer at al-Aqsa and imposed a complete closure on the Old City.
Friday’s shooting incident took place as Israeli forces killed an 18-year-old Palestinian early on Friday during a military raid in al-Duheisha refugee camp in the West Bank province of Bethlehem.
