Israeli police announced today, Friday, that the Jerusalem district police arrested 8 individuals on suspicion of "incitement and supporting terrorism." The police stated that this morning, after the dawn prayer at the Al-Aqsa compound, which was attended by thousands as it was the week before, "brief incidents of incitement and expressions of support for terrorism and terrorist organizations occurred from some worshippers." It added: "In response, the Jerusalem district police acted swiftly. Our officers recently arrested 8 suspects – 4 from East Jerusalem and 4 from northern Israel – in the Old City for questioning. These individuals have been transferred to the David interrogation center."
Palestinian news agency "Wafa" reported earlier today that Israeli forces attacked thousands of worshippers at Al-Aqsa following the dawn prayer, using tear gas bombs and arrested at least five young men. Several worshippers suffered from suffocation after tear gas was fired via a drone in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa mosque today. "Wafa" mentioned that thousands of worshippers and those in spiritual retreat chanted slogans condemning the Israeli aggression on Gaza before the Israeli forces attacked them. "Palestine TV" reported that the Israeli police also launched tear gas towards the worshippers in the mosque's courtyards.
Yesterday, the Palestinian news agency reported that Israeli forces stormed the tents of those in spiritual retreat in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa mosque at dawn and arrested four of them. The agency quoted witnesses saying that the Israeli police searched the retreat tents. It stated that Israeli forces are working to evacuate worshippers from the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque to allow settlers to invade the mosque the next morning.
Thousands of Palestinians performed the evening and Tarawih prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque yesterday, despite the restrictions and pressures from the Israeli army. The Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem reported that 50,000 performed the evening and Tarawih prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque. Israeli forces spread at the gates of Al-Aqsa mosque and in the Old City of Jerusalem, searching several young men and checking their identities as they passed through the Bab Hatta gate.
It is worth noting that Israeli measures have led to a decrease in the number of worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque due to the prevention of West Bank and Gaza Strip citizens from reaching occupied Jerusalem, along with the establishment of dozens of checkpoints in its various neighborhoods and entrances, including the entrances to the blessed mosque. On the first days of Ramadan, Israeli forces placed barbed wire on the wall adjacent to Al-Aqsa mosque in the "Bab al-Asbat" area, aiming to prevent worshippers from entering the mosque.
