Israeli police abducted, on Friday, 15 Palestinian Muslim worshipers, and assaulted others near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, local sources reported.
On the third Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, thousands of Palestinian Muslims gathered to pray at the mosque, despite harsh restrictions to enter the holy site.
At dawn, Israeli police blocked all worshipers under the age of 40 from entering the mosque, and attacked worshipers with batons at the Bab Hutta or Remission Gate which leads to the Al-Aqsa mosque.
Eyewitnesses stated that occupation forces assaulted nearby street vendors and shop owners in the vicinity.
Sources reported that 130,000 Muslims from Arab neighborhoods in Israel and the West Bank, gathered for Friday prayers at the third holiest site in Islam.
Many access points in the Old City where the mosque is located, were blocked and 2,300 police officers were stationed throughout the streets and alleys, making it difficult for worshipers to enter the area.
Later, Israeli occupation police abducted at least 15 Palestinians, 3 of whom were minors, from the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding gates.
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