Israel bars Palestinians from Al-Aqsa for Friday prayer

According to an Anadolu Agency correspondent, Zionist regime's police stopped worshipers from the West Bank at checkpoints at the entrances to the Old City in Al-Quds and allowed only a very small number of them to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque after identity checks.

The Palestinians, who were prevented from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque, performed Friday prayers on the streets near the Old City.

The Zionist regime's police erected checkpoints at the entrances to the Old City in the morning.

Imam of Al-Aqsa Sheikh Yusuf Abu Sneina denounced in the Friday sermon "the repeated prevention of worshipers from reaching the mosque."

"It is not permissible under any circumstances to continue preventing worshipers from reaching the mosque to perform prayer," Abu Sneina said.

This is the fourth consecutive Friday that the residents of the West Bank have been prevented from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque.

About 12,000 residents of East Al-Quds and Palestinians living in occupied territories performed Friday prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, amid strict measures, according to local estimates.

Zionist regime requires residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to obtain special permits in order to reach Al-Quds or to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.​​​​​​​