Israeli authorities banned Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied West Bank city of Jerusalem on Friday morning, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.
Hundreds of Muslim worshippers prayed by roadsides in the vicinity of the mosque compound, which has remained closed by Israeli occupation authorities for 21 consecutive days since the start of the US and Israeli war on Iran, the Governorate said.
Worshippers prayed at the nearest points to the mosque compound, particularly at Bab al-Amud (Damascus Gate) and Bab al-Sahira (Herod’s Gate), despite occupation restrictions.
Occupation forces unleashed barrages of teargas and concussion bombs at worshippers to prevent them from approaching the mosque compound and detained a worshipper from Salahuddin Street.
Jerusalem Governorate criticised the ongoing closure of the mosque compound as a dangerous, unprecedented escalation and a blatant violation of the freedom of worship.
It affirmed that the Israeli measures are intended to impose a new reality and isolate the mosque from its Palestinian surroundings.
