Israeli authorities have barred Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for the 12th consecutive Friday.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli police installed barriers at entrances to the Old City and only allowed elderly people to access the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli police also set up checkpoints at the outer gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound – Islam’s third holiest site.
Hundreds of people performed Friday prayers in the streets near the old city, after being prevented from reaching the mosque.
A large number of Israeli forces were also deployed in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood near the Old City and prevented worshipers from reaching the mosque, witnesses added. Israeli forces sprayed “skunk water” and used tear gas canisters against worshipers, the Wafa news agency reported.