Israeli police attack Palestinian worshippers, close Al-Aqsa

JERUSALEM: A number of Muslim worshippers on Tuesday were assaulted and harassed by Israeli soldiers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Using the pretext of a fire at their post as the excuse, the Israeli forces attacked with batons dozens of Palestinian worshippers and evacuated the compound.

As Palestinians and other worshipers arrived for the evening prayer, the baton-wielding police violently and aggressively pushed them away from the main gate, the Lion’s Gate (Bab al-Asbat), said residents who witnessed the brutality.

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“Dozens of Israeli soldiers stormed Al-Aqsa compound and assaulted a number of religious figures,” Firas Al Dibs, a spokesman for the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a Jordan-run organization responsible for overseeing the city’s Islamic sites, said in a statement.

https://twitter.com/PALESTINO_Pal/status/1105446336168689665

As per reports, a A funeral procession entering Al-Aqsa mosque compound was barred and was attacked by Israeli police.

https://twitter.com/JIC_PAL/status/1105525255689461760

The compound is the third-holiest site in Islam and a focus of Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

Recent weeks have seen scuffles over a side building at the Bab al-Rahma gate, also known as the Golden Gate.

The closer of Bab al-Asbat means all gates to the holy site were closed, restricting Palestinian Muslims’ freedom of worship.

Noteworthy, Bab al-Asbat and Bab al-Rhama prayer area was closed by Israeli authorities 16 years ago, and was re-opened three weeks ago by Palestinians.