Israel closes Al-Aqsa for sixth day

Israeli authorities have banning Palestinian worshipers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for the sixth day, while Israeli police and army escorted extremist settlers who toured the Muslim holy site and perform Talmudic prayers, Quds Press reported yesterday.

In the morning, Israeli troops imposed a security cordon around the mosque and prevented Palestinian women from entering it. Meanwhile, Palestinian worshipers protested in front of Al-Silsilah Gate, one of eight gates of the mosque, against the Israeli measures.

The worshipers and officials, including Sheikh Raed Salah, warned that Al-Aqsa is facing the most dangerous stage of aggression against it.

They said that the Israeli occupation is planning to impose a time division in the mosque, based on which, Muslims and Jews will have fixed schedules for their visits and prayers inside the third holiest site for Muslims.

Quds Press said that 22 Israeli settlers were escorted by heavily armed troops into the mosque’s courtyards in the early hours of yesterday.

Adding that two Palestinian youths identified as Sannad Abu-Sneineh and Mohamed Al-Hashlamoun were arrested and taken to the investigation centre in the Old City.

Israeli Special Forces assaulted Palestinian women at the gates of the mosque, news reports said.

Meanwhile, the Awqaf Department in Jerusalem said that Israeli police told five Al-Aqsa Mosque guards to go to the Israeli investigation centre.

They called this a “provocative” measure against Al-Aqsa Mosque and its guards.