Thousands of Palestinian worshipers made their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan, despite restrictions and assaults perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces. 

Earlier, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine reported that the IOF were on heightened alert as worshipers made their way to Al-Aqsa for Friday prayers. 

Israeli media also reported on Friday the "security and military establishment's profound anxiety", showcased by the deployment of at least 3,000 occupation soldiers across occupied al-Quds. 

Israeli forces also imposed severe restrictions on Palestinians traveling to occupied al-Quds from the West Bank for prayers at al-Aqsa. 

Moreover, local sources stated that the IOF fortified their presence at military checkpoints leading to al-Quds, inspected Palestinians' identification cards, and prevented hundreds from entering. 

IOF prevented many from entering

The Qalandiya crossing, north al-Quds, and the “300” checkpoint in the south witnessed lighter crowds compared to previous years due to restrictions. The occupation forces also prevented the entry of a large number of men and women, claiming that they did not obtain the required permits.

"Israel" dictates that anyone coming from the West Bank to Al-Aqsa must obtain a valid magnetized security permit and adhere to age restrictions for those applying: men over 55, women over 50, and children under the age of 10.

thousands of worshippers performed the fajr prayer today, friday at the Al Aqsa Mosque 🤍🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/lANiBEHxVg

— 🐎 (@falestiniasoul) March 22, 2024

Read more: 20,000 worshippers prayed in al-Aqsa defying Israeli restrictions

Steel barricades and cages all around Al-Aqsa Mosque

Pictures of the Israeli occupation police placing cage-like steel barricades on all gates leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, specifically King Faisal, Al-Ghawanmeh, and Al-Hadid gates have been circulating all over social media. However, the spokesperson of the Israeli occupation police claimed that this dangerous and unprecedented move was merely routine maintenance work.

Commenting on the latter, Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, expressed his condemnation of the barricades and cages "collectively and in detail" stressing that this move was a unilateral one taken by the occupation. 

Sheikh Sabri emphasized that this move showcases the occupation's ambitions of enforcing dominance and control over the mosque highlighting that all Israeli occupation's measures relating to the mosque completely contradict the freedom of worship as they should not specify the age or number of worshipers. 

The preacher called on the worshipers to "heed the call of the Messenger of God Prophet Mohammad to head towards Al-Aqsa" calling on any worshiper who is prevented entrance by the occupation to pray wherever they are stopped. 

BREAKING| Israeli forces start installing steel barricades on the entrances to Al Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/wv7WJ1V8h9

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) March 14, 2024

Read more: Hamas urges Palestinians in al-Quds to break al-Aqsa siege on Friday