For hours this morning, the Israeli forces prevented thousands of worshipers from arriving at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the first Friday prayer of the month of Ramadan.

Eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli forces deployed widely around the Qalandiya checkpoints north of Jerusalem, Zaytouna to the east, and Bethlehem to the south, and returned thousands of worshipers and did not allow them to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the pretext of not obtaining the necessary permits.

Israeli forces also deployed thousands of police officers in the alleys of the Old City of Jerusalem, in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and at its gates.

Yesterday, the Israeli authorities installed iron barriers at the gates of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, specifically at the gates of King Faisal, Al-Ghawanmeh, and Al-Hadid, in an effort to impose more control on the entry of worshipers, control the roads, and prevent freedom of worship normally in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It is noteworthy that the Israeli forces have imposed a strict siege on the Old City of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque for six months, preventing entry to them. They have issued dozens of deportation orders against Jerusalemites, in order to prevent them from praying during the month of Ramadan.