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Rabat – Israel occupation forces have attacked Palestinian worshipers who gathered for Friday prayers near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, leaving many suffering from tear gas inhalation, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
The attacks unfolded in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood, adjacent to the mosque, marking the 11th consecutive week that worshipers were unable to access the mosque due to restrictions imposed by Israeli forces.
Reports indicated that the Israeli army employed rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters, and contaminated water to disperse the crowd. This has resulted in several cases of suffocation from tear gas inhalation.
The clashes also extended to journalists covering the incident, with Israeli forces assaulting and expelling them from the scene, added the report.
Widely shared videos have shown Israeli forces attacking worshipers headed to the mosque and firing tear gas at them.
Amid strict military measures imposed by Israeli authorities, only 12,000 worshipers managed to enter the holy site, reported the news agency.
Read also: Dozens of Israeli Settlers Storm Al Aqsa Mosque as Gaza Turmoil Continues
These measures included the closure of mosque doors and a prohibition on entry for Palestinians residing outside the Old City of Jerusalem, irrespective of their place of residency, whether from the 1948 territories, or the surrounding neighborhoods of Jerusalem.
The use of force against worshipers and the restrictions imposed on accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque have sparked condemnation from activists and international observers.
Activists continue to issue calls to grant Palestinians the right to worship freely at the Al-Aqsa Mosque amid the Israeli aggression’s intensified efforts to alter the historical and religious status of the holy site.
While Israel has been banning Palestinians from entering the mosque, dozens of Israeli settlers have stormed the holy site in recent months under the protection of Israeli forces.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque holds immense religious significance for both Jews and Muslims, creating tension on who has the right to worship on the holy site. Muslims consider the mosque to be the third holiest site, following the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and the Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.
