Tensions Flare in East Jerusalem as Israeli Forces Restrict Al-Aqsa Access
In response to Hamas' calls for mass rallies in East Jerusalem on Friday, Israeli security forces restricted access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, limiting the number of Palestinian worshippers who can enter the compound
Tensions continue to run high in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Many Palestinian worshippers were turned away from Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. Israel deployed a large number of security forces in the Holy City almost a week after the surprise Hamas terror attack and Israel’s subsequent Gaza offensive.
Security forces were on high alert outside of Damascus Gate, the largest of the eight entrances to the walled Old City. Israeli police officers patrolled the streets, demanding that passersby present their ID cards.
In an effort to limit the potential for confrontations, Israeli police were selective about who they allowed to enter Al-Aqsa compound for prayers on Friday, only permitting certain older men, women, and children in. Access from the West Bank was also restricted.
According to the Islamic endowment that manages the mosque, Israel allowed only 5,000 Palestinian worshippers to access the site. On a typical Friday, some 50,000 worshippers perform the prayers.
“I have never seen this much security in and around Jerusalem before. We are suffocating. I’m 50 years old and they prevented me from reaching Al-Aqsa to pray,” local worshipper Ala’a Tamim told The Media Line.
Khaled Jaber, 49, a resident of Wadi al-Joz, a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, is another worshipper who was turned away.
He told The Media Line that Israel is “scared” that people will show up in large numbers in support of Gaza. “Israel wants to make sure that support for Gaza doesn’t go public. I feel sad that I wasn’t allowed to enter,” said Jaber.
Al-Aqsa compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is the third most sacred place in Islam.
The Islamist group Hamas called for mass rallies on Friday in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and throughout the Arab and Muslim world. It urged young Palestinians to “rise up and go out in roaring crowds,” and clash with settlers and soldiers in the area. It also called on the Palestinian citizens of Israel to gather at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa compound, to prevent Jews from “desecrating it” and “building on it.”
Hamas also appealed to Palestinians in the diaspora, as well as “the free people of our Arab and Islamic nation all around the world,” to gather in “the closest point to Jerusalem.”
Under the watchful eye of Israeli police, all young men were turned away from Al-Aqsa Mosque and many were treated roughly as they attempted to pass through the Old City’s gates heading to the compound.
This Friday was different from every other Friday. In previous years, they prevented us from praying, but the restrictions are not what happened today. They did not allow any young people to enter, only the elderly. We tried to enter and were not allowed, so we had to pray in the street.
Mohammed Altamimi was one of the lucky ones, as he was allowed in. “This Friday was different from every other Friday. In previous years, they prevented us from praying, but the restrictions are not what happened today. They did not allow any young people to enter, only the elderly. We tried to enter and were not allowed, so we had to pray in the street,” Altamimi told The Media Line.
Those who didn’t make it inside the mosque compound attempted to pray on the pavement, but Israeli police dispersed worshippers with water cannons and tear gas.
There was a massive security presence throughout the city. Security remains on high alert given the extremely tense situation, which is expected to continue as long as the Israeli military campaign continues over Gaza.
Confrontations have frequently broken out at the holy site between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli security forces.
In a statement, Hamas said it had launched last Saturday’s “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack on Israel in part to defend the holy site.
