Israel, attacking the Palestinians after opening al-Aqsa, did not admit Muslim men under 50 to the mosque for Friday prayers.
Israel did not allow Muslim men under the age of 50 to perform this week’s Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque.
Clashes are ongoing in front of al-Aqsa due to Israel’s ban.
Israeli police, in a written statement, said that Muslim men under the age of 50 will not be allowed access to al-Aqsa Mosque for the day, and that women of all ages will be allowed to the mosque.
The statement informed that extra police forces were deployed in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, and that some roads around this area would be closed.
Israeli police also claimed that the ban was imposed because “there were indications that disturbances and demonstrations would take place."
Protests began on July 14 after the mosque's leadership called on worshippers to boycott new metal detectors installed at the site's entrances after a deadly shootout last week.
These new security measures have led to a wave of anger among Palestinians, who called for the immediate removal of the metal detectors.
Israel has defended the controversial moves, claiming they were no different from security measures at other holy sites around the world.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the city in 1980, claiming all of Jerusalem as the Jewish state’s "eternal" capital -- a move never recognized by the international community.
Sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians, Jerusalem is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which for Muslims represents the world's third holiest site.
