Aqsa Restrictions Continue for Palestinian Worshipers

Israeli forces continued to impose restrictions on Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday, closing the majority of entry gates and denying entry to men under 40.

Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, told Ma’an that the Hatta Gate, Lions Gate, Council Gate and Chain Gate were open, with the remaining gates closed.

Palestinian men under 40 were denied entry while women were permitted to enter but forced to leave their identity cards with Israeli forces.

“What does it mean to open al-Aqsa gates at 11 a.m.? What does it mean to allow Muslim worshipers into the mosque only after 10 a.m.?” Sheikh Kiswani said.

“This means dividing the mosque in time,” he added.

Witnesses told Ma’an that Jewish Home MK Shuli Mualem toured the Aqsa compound on Monday with the son of far-right activist Yehuda Glick, who was shot last Wednesday by a suspected Palestinian gunman.

Following the attack, Israeli forces raided the home of suspect Muataz Ibrahim Hijazi and shot him over 20 times.

His family say he could have been arrested during the raid and was deliberately shot multiple times and left to bleed to death.

A lawyer for the Addameer Palestinian prisoners’ rights group called the incident an “extra-judicial” killing.

Israeli forces completely sealed off the Al-Aqsa compound for the first time in years following the shooting of Glick, leading President Mahmoud Abbas to label the move a “declaration of war.”

(Ma’an – www.maannews.net)
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1 Comment

  1. As neither a Muslim or a Jew, recently returned from Jerusalem, I am deeply saddened by the daily reports of ongoing death and violence. I find it highly offensive that assistance is given to some people who want to access Al Aqsa, whilst others who want to pray there, are not only prevented from doing so, but are treated with contempt.
    World leaders KNOW the truth of what’s actually happening in Israel. On behalf of all those who are offended by it, I call on them to stand as one and administer the kind of justice they would administer if the shoe was on the other foot. PLEASE, stand up for the truth. You won’t make millions of $’s but you might make millions of friends.

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