Israel to deploy 3,000 additional policemen in East Jerusalem ahead of 1st Friday prayer in Ramadan

Israel Police will deploy 3,000 personnel in occupied East Jerusalem ahead of the first Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement issued today, the police said the additional forces will be deployed across the city, especially near crossings and in alleys of the Old City.

Israel estimates that tens of thousands of Palestinian worshippers will attend the Friday prayers at the mosque.

Last month, Israel placed its forces on high alert and deployed 3,000 forces across the roads leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.

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Since the start of Ramadan, Israel has restricted the entry of Palestinian worshippers from the occupied West Bank into the mosque, allowing only Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli Arabs to access the site.

Palestinians view these restrictions as part of a broader Israeli policy to Judaise East Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews claim the site held two Jewish temples in ancient times and call it the ‘Temple Mount’.

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