Israeli Forces Beat And Blocked Palestinian Worshippers From Praying At Al-Aqsa Mosque On Ramadan Eve
Israeli forces and extremists have regularly attacked Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan in previous years and raided the holy site at other times.
Israeli forces beat and blocked hundreds of Palestinian worshippers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem to pray on the first night of Ramadan on Sunday March 10.
Videos shared on social media on Sunday, March 10, showed Israeli forces beating people who tried to cross through several doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, with batons.
The Taraweeh prayers take place every night of the holy month of Ramadan, and the mosque typically attracts tens of thousands of Muslims who pray in congregation.
Israeli forces also detained a number of worshippers at the gates,, according to Palestinian WAFA News Agency.
They also placed barbed wire on the fence near one of the main gates into the mosque compound, allowing only men and women above the age of 40 to enter.
Those who were barred from entering were forced to pray outside the grounds of the religious compound.
However, the day after, Palestinian worshippers were allowed to pray at the mosque, with an estimated 35,000 people showing up.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced days earlier on Wednesday, March 6, worshippers would be allowed to enter the mosque during the first week of Ramadan, like in previous years.
“The situation will be evaluated weekly in terms of security and safety aspects, and that decisions will be taken accordingly,” he added.
Israeli forces and extremists have regularly attacked Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan in previous years and raided the holy site at other times.
Since Oct. 7, Israeli forces have imposed a strict siege on Al-Aqsa and blocked people from entering.
