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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israeli forces attack Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa during first night of Ramadan</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">By MEE staff</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">March 11, 2024<br></div>
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<p>Video footage showed Israeli forces
beating worshippers walking to prayers at the holy site, while others
were forbidden from entering</p>
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<img width="395" height="222" src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/ramadan-jeru-reuters.jpg?itok=NU85_Sri" alt="" style="margin-right: 0px;">
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<p>Muslim worshippers walk towards the Dome of the Rock, part of the al-Aqsa holy site, on the first evening of Ramadan (Reuters)</p>
<p><span>Published date:</span> 11 March 2024 12:29 GMT
<span>| </span>
<span>Last update:</span> <span id="gmail-date-updatedago">3 hours 34 mins </span> ago </p>
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<div><p><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israeli</a> forces beat and prevented Muslim worshippers from entering the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/palestine-al-aqsa-islam-one-of-islam-holiest-significiance" target="_blank">Al-Aqsa Mosque</a> compound in Jerusalem on the first night of the holy month of <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/2024-ramadan-when-starts-why-muslims-fast" target="_blank">Ramadan</a>. </p>
<p>In video footage shared online, armed Israeli police officers are seen hitting <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestinians</a> in the streets of the Old City, while they were walking towards the holy site to attend <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-mecca-medina-broadcasts-continue-backlash" target="_blank">taraweeh </a>prayers.</p>
<p>The special prayers take place every night of the holy month of
Ramadan, and typically attract tens of thousands of Muslims who pray in
congregation. </p>
<p>According to local media, Israeli soldiers set up multiple
checkpoints around the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem, blocking
roads and obstructing people from reaching the site.</p>
<p>Eyewitnesses said that Israeli police only allowed some men and women over the age of 40 to enter the site.</p>
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<div><p>The Israeli government had issued a statement on 5 March saying
that they would not restrict Palestinian worshippers during Ramadan. </p><p>
Witnesses said that Israeli forces stopped and checked the bags of young men and women in the alleyways of the Old City.</p></div>
<p>One woman<a href="https://www.arab48.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%A9/2024/03/10/%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%7C-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%A5%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89-%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B9-%D8%A3%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%AE%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AC%D8%AF" target="_blank"> told local media</a>
that “the number of Palestinians who were prevented from entering
al-Aqsa was more than the number of worshippers who were able to enter
and perform taraweeh prayers.”</p>
<p>“The occupation forces have even prevented any gatherings of
Palestinians or prayers in the surrounding areas,” she added, referring
to Israeli security forces.</p>
<h3>'Attack' on free worship</h3>
<p>Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Monday restrictions
imposed by Israel on Muslim worshippers' access to al-Aqsa was pushing
the situation towards an "explosion".</p>
<p>In his statement, Safadi said his country rejected Israel's move to
limit access to the holy site during Ramadan, citing security needs with
war raging in Gaza.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>'The number of Palestinians who were prevented from entering al-Aqsa
was more than the number of worshipers who were able to enter'</p>
<p><em>- Jerusalem resident</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>He added that Jordan shared the Palestinian view that such restrictions were an attack on freedom of worship.</p>
<p>The prevention of worshippers from entering al-Aqsa comes at the same
time that Palestinians in Gaza were forced to pray in the outdoors
amidst the ruins, following over five months of Israeli bombardment and
the total destruction of nearly all of Gaza’s mosques. </p>
<p>Palestinians in Gaza told Middle East Eye that they are apprehensive
about the holy month, as over 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in
the Strip since October, while another 70,000 have been wounded. </p>
<p>The UN has also announced that 80 percent of the Strip is now
uninhabitable, while widespread hunger has gripped the majority of Gaza.
At least 27 people have died due to hunger and starvation since the
start of the war.</p>
<p>“We are now living in conditions worse than the Nakba," Diab al-Zaza
told Middle East Eye, referring to the period when Palestinians were
killed or driven from their homes when the state of Israel came into
existence. </p>
<p>"At the time of the Nakba there were fewer people and the country was open, but now we are besieged from all sides," he added. </p>
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