JERUSALEM 

Israeli police on Sunday prevented hundreds of Palestinians who wanted to perform the first Tarawih (night) prayer of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, beating many of them.

According to information from eyewitnesses, the police only allowed women and men over 40 to enter.

Eyewitnesses said that many Palestinians who came to perform Tarawih had gathered at the gate of the Noble Sanctuary, or Haram al-Sharif.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took responsibility for the decision to allow extremist Jews to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan, the Israeli state broadcaster KAN reported.

It said that Netanyahu along with Israel’s internal security service Shin Bet and the army had previously called for such a move.

However, the Israeli government, in a statement on March 5 claimed that contrary to the demand of far-right coalition partners, it would not restrict the worship of Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.

Palestinians emphasize that East Jerusalem is the future capital of an independent Palestinian state, but Israel is attempting to change its identity by Judaizing East Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul