Israel court bans Al-Aqsa protest detainees from accessing compound

An Israeli court yesterday released 14 Palestinian detainees “on condition of staying away from the Old City of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque for 60 days”, reported Wafa news agency.

Those living in the Old City itself were banned from Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The individuals were also ordered to pay around $400 in bail, according to Mohammad Mahmoud, an attorney with the Prisoners Commission. Two further Palestinians “were remanded in custody until Friday”.

Hanadi Halawani

As Wafa reported, “confrontations broke out inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tuesday between Israeli police and Palestinians”, leading to several injuries and around 16 arrests.

PA: Israel dragging region in to religious conflict 

Meanwhile, the report added, “Israeli police detained on Wednesday a woman who is active in defending Al-Aqsa Mosque at her Jerusalem home and summoned another woman for interrogation.”

“Both women, Hanadi Halawani and Khadija Khweis, were targeted before by the police, held in detention several times and ordered to stay away from Al-Aqsa for many weeks,” Wafa stated.

Tensions have been high in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound this week, as Palestinian worshippers have confronted Israeli occupation forces over new locks on metal gates blocking the entrance to a building at Bab Al-Rahma. The property has been closed by Israeli authorities since 2003.