Israeli occupation authorities lifted for the first time in months age limit on Palestinians who want to attend Friday prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds.
Israeli occupation authorities lifted for the first time in months age limit on Palestinians who want to attend Friday prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds (Jerusalem).
An occupation police spokesman said men of all ages will be allowed to attend Friday prayers in the holy mosque.
"No age limit on the Temple Mount, we're hoping things will be calm and quiet today," spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told AFP, using the Jewish term for al-Aqsa Mosque.
He added that "extra police units were deployed in Jerusalem this morning to prevent any incidents in and around the Old City."
Rosenfeld linked the decision to lift age restrictions to talks in Jordan on Thursday after which US Secretary of State John Kerry said steps were agreed between King Abdullah II and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lower tensions at the mosque compound.
"Firm commitments" were made to maintain the status quo at the compound, holy to both Jews and Muslims, in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, Kerry said at a press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.
The Zionist entity and Jordan, which has custodial rights at the compound, also agreed to take steps to "de-escalate the situation" in al-Quds and to "restore confidence".
"We are not going to lay out each practical step. It is more important they be done in a quiet and effective way," Kerry said.
Tensions between the Palestinians and the occupation forces in the few past weeks came as Zionist extremists were calling for Jews to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque, a move condemned by Muslims who refuse the Israeli desecration of the holy mosque.
Israeli Occupation Army Injure 10 Palestinians in West Bank
Ten Palestinians were injured in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces in the occupied West Bank on Friday, locals said.
In al-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, Israeli occupation forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas at protesters after closing the main entrance to the town.
Seven youths were injured by the Israeli occupation forces.
