Jerusalem: Tens of thousands of Palestinians performed Friday prayer today at Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the Israeli occupation forces imposing a blockade on the vicinity of the Old City and the mosque, just a day before the so-called Jewish "Day of Atonement".
According to Qatar News Agency, the Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem reported that tens of thousands participated in the Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, even though occupation forces had enforced a tight siege around the Old City and the mosque. Dozens of young men, including individuals with disabilities using wheelchairs, were prevented by occupation forces from accessing the site, as they were blocked from passing through the city's Al-Asbat Gate.
The Department noted that occupation forces severely beat a young man, knocking him to the ground in Al-Ghazali Square near Al-Asbat Gate before he could enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, while another individual was arrested within the mosque's courtyards.
It further stated that occupation forces deployed extensive iron barriers around the Old City and the mosque, stopping worshippers to identify them, and prevented others from reaching the mosque.
Occupation authorities deny thousands of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank access to Jerusalem to pray at Al-Aqsa, requiring them to obtain special permits to cross the military checkpoints surrounding the Holy City.