Qatar- Israel Suspends Aqsa Visits for Gazans over Jewish Holiday

4/23/2016 3:14:24 AM

(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Occupied Jerusalem April 22 (QNA) - The Israeli authorities suspended visits to Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Gazans on Friday due to the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Israeli authorities prevented dozens of Palestinians over the age of 60 from traveling to Jerusalem via the Erez crossing for their weekly Friday worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque sources at the Palestinian liaison office told Ma'an.
Israeli forces implemented complete closures on crossings in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip for Palestinians on the Jewish holiday. The closure began midnight Thursday and is to be in effect until midnight Saturday.
Only humanitarian medical and other exceptional cases would be allowed to cross after obtaining approval from Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
Tightened security measures were also enforced in Jerusalem with extra police units deployed in public areas and an emphasis on occupied East Jerusalem's Old City. Israeli forces also detained at least 20 Palestinians across east Jerusalem in predawn raids Friday.
The suspension of Al-Aqsa visits for Gazans comes one week after some 200 Palestinians above the age of 60 were permitted to cross out of the besieged coastal enclave for the first time since a one-month freeze on visitation was lifted by Israel. (QNA)

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