Restrictions, Beatings, and Summons as Worshipers Gather at Al-Aqsa

JERUSALEM: The occupation authorities imposed stringent restrictions on worshipers attempting to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers, reportedly affecting thousands who gathered in the area. Despite these measures, approximately 40,000 worshipers successfully performed their religious duties at the site. According to Maan News Agency, checkpoints were established on the roads surrounding the Old City, with forces deployed at the city gates and around Al-Aqsa. Iron barriers and barricades were placed to control the flow of worshipers, who were stopped and had their identities checked. The security forces reportedly targeted young men, boys, women, and the elderly, preventing hundreds from entering the mosque, assaulting them with sticks, and dispersing any gatherings near the site. In response to the restrictions, young men conducted their prayers at the nearest possible locations, including Bab Al-Sahira, Al-Mujahideen Road, Bab Al-Asbat, and the cemeteries of Al-Yusufiyah and Bab Al-Rahma, as well as i n the alleys of the Old City. Additionally, the forces issued investigation summons to several individuals, including guards Abu Bakr Al-Shaimi and Nafisa Khweis. These measures appear to be part of broader efforts to limit access to Al-Aqsa during the week of the Feast of Tabernacles, which began the previous day. The authorities also detained numerous young men, subjecting many to body searches, while imposing restrictions on press crews by keeping them away from the vicinity of Al-Aqsa, preventing filming, and examining recorded materials. Despite these impediments, a significant number of worshipers managed to perform their prayers at Al-Aqsa, showcasing the determination of the faithful to uphold their religious practices.