Israeli forces have attacked Palestinians who were praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, blocking the gates of the mosque and beating those who tried to enter.
According to reports, the soldiers attacked people who were going to the mosque for worship. Videos of the attack are now circulating on social media.
These videos show Israeli soldiers intercepting and attacking people in the mosque area.
According to some reports, some soldiers stopped near the Al-Aqsa Mosque and tried to search and arrest people in the area. However, no arrests have been reported so far.
The Israeli army carried out a similar attack today, knowing that many people would gather at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday. This is the 20th consecutive Friday that soldiers have blocked visitors to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third most sacred mosque for Muslims, and Israeli soldiers have repeatedly prevented Muslims from entering it.
In 2021, an Israeli raid on the Mosque compound led to an 11 day conflict between Israeli soldiers and Hamas freedom fighters.
Last year, during the Holy Month of Ramadan, Israeli soldiers attempted to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque in riot gear after Palestinians had barricaded themselves inside. The Muslim worshippers were trying to prevent a ritual sacrifice by Jews, which is prohibited in the area. This resulted in the injury of 50 Palestinians and the arrest of 400.
There are fears that the Israeli government will continue to restrict access to the Mosque and cause violent disruptions during the upcoming month of Ramadan this year.