Israeli Occupation Forces Deny Thousands of Muslim Worshippers Access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Preventing them from Performing Friday Prayer

IOF troops stop thousands of Palestinians from reaching the Aqsa Mosque

[ 11/09/2009 - 10:32 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation government deployed its soldiers in large numbers in and around the occupied city of Jerusalem and set up roadblocks in the city on the third Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, in order to limit access of worshippers to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest Muslim shrine after those of Makkah and Medinah.

The Israeli radio had announced earlier that only men over the age of 50 and women over the age of 45 and those with passes will be allowed to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the Friday prayers.

Thousands of people waited at the Qalandia checkpoint to be allowed into Jerusalem, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) allowed only a small number into the Mosque and thousands were still waiting at noon when IOF officers running the checkpoint announced it was closed, according to al-Jazeera tv.

Qalandia checkpoint is the only gateway for Palestinians from the West Bank to get into Jerusalem and during Ramadan Muslim worshippers try to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque for their Friday Prayers.

Many people have been waiting at the checkpoint since before dawn hoping to be able to cross into Jerusalem. Palestinian medics were at the scene and helped a number of people who collapsed because of the heat and the overcrowding while fasting.

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