Israel Restricts Access To Aqsa Mosque

Israeli police imposed fresh restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on Friday, amid tension in the holy city following the shooting of a Palestinian driver who allegedly ran over several Israelis.



Only male worshippers aged 40 and above and women of all ages were allowed into the holy site, according to eyewitnesses.



Israeli police were seen deployed in Jerusalem's Old City and at the Aqsa Mosque gates ahead of the weekly Friday prayers.



Tension mounted in East Jerusalem since Wednesday, when Israeli police shot a Palestinian driver who allegedly ran over several Israeli pedestrians in Jerusalem.



A three-month-old baby was reportedly killed and eight people injured in the incident. The driver subsequently died in a hospital.



Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state – a move never recognized by the international community.



By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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