Tens of thousands of Palestinians pray at al-Aqsa despite crackdown
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The Israeli occupation forces crack down on Palestinians attempting to reach al-Aqsa mosque and erect barricades all over occupied al-Quds.
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Muslim worshippers perform Jummuah, or Friday, prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of al-Quds during the holy month of Ramadan, March 15, 2024 (AP)
Tens of thousands of Palestinians performed Jummuah prayers on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan despite the paramount restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation forces in occupied al-Quds to prohibit Muslims from reaching the holy site.
The Israeli occupation forces forbid thousands of worshippers from attending the first Jummuah prayer in al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied West Bank and occupied al-Quds through the harsh measures they put in place an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.
The IOF blocked numerous main roads that lead to the mosque in the vicinity of the Old City of al-Quds.
"تم إغلاق محاور طرق رئيسية عديدة في محيط البلدة القديمة لإعاقة وصول المصلين إلى باحات المسجد، ولكن بالرغم من تقييدات الشرطة الإسرائيلية من المتوقع توافد عشرات الآلاف من المصلين إلى #المسجد_الأقصى"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) March 15, 2024
مراسلة #الميادين هناء محاميد #فلسطين #غزة pic.twitter.com/OKJp3q6b3o
Eyewitnesses said the Israeli occupation forces were heavily mobilized all over the Old City and the vicinity of al-Aqsa, the checkpoints in Qalandiya, al-Zeitouna, and Beit Lahm.
Eyewitnesses also reported that the Israeli occupation forces sent back thousands of worshippers and prevented them from going to al-Aqsa Mosque due to not having the "necessary paperwork".
"رايحين ع أقصانا وبدنا بطاقات ممغنطة!!"
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) March 15, 2024
فلسطيني منعه الاحتلال من عبور حاجز قلنديا لأداء صلاة الجمعة الأولى من #شهر_رمضان في #المسجد_الأقصى بحجة عدم وجود بطاقة ممغنطة#الميادين#فلسطين pic.twitter.com/Y3s73Ej0Z1
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth announced that hundreds of Israeli occupation police personnel will flood the alleys of al-Quds's Old City Friday in a state of enhanced "security alert".
The newspaper added that thousands of worshipers are predicted to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque today, expecting severe clashes in support of Gaza after the prayers which will cause a "huge dilemma" for the Israeli occupation police.
It revealed that Israeli Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, the leadership of the Israeli Brigade in al-Quds, and "Shin Bet" officials, are meeting in the command room in the Old City to follow up on the latest developments. The dilemma, according to the Israeli newspaper, rests in how the occupation should handle any clashes during or after the prayer, as the IOF are hesitant to raid the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for fear of possible escalations.
The Israeli news website emphasized that the Israeli police are devoting special attention to social media, describing it as an "inspiration source" for the attackers. with a special section being established to monitor all "provocative" posts since the beginning of Ramadan as the occupation believes that these posts can ignite the city.
