For the seventh Friday, Israeli restrictions prevent Palestinians from praying in Al-Aqsa

Jerusalem: For the seventh Friday since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli police have prevented thousands of Palestinian worshipers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform Friday prayers.

An official at the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem told Anadolu Agency, “The Israeli police, for the seventh Friday in a row, imposed very strict restrictions on the entry of worshipers into Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The official added, preferring not to reveal his name: “The chapels and courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque are almost empty, except for several thousand elderly worshipers who were able to enter the mosque.”

He continued: “Since the beginning of the war, on October 7, the Israeli police have imposed strict restrictions on the entry of worshipers into Al-Aqsa Mosque, but these restrictions increase on Fridays.”

The official estimated that only about 5,000 were able to perform Friday prayers, compared to at least 50,000 worshipers on regular Fridays.

The Israeli police, who have intensified their presence in East Jerusalem since the dawn hours, do not explain the reasons for imposing restrictions on prayer at Al-Aqsa.

The police set up barriers at the gates of the Old City, and allowed only the elderly to pass, which led to friction with worshipers who insisted on their right to pray in the mosque, according to eyewitnesses.

Large police forces were deployed in the alleys of the Old City, set up barriers at the outer doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and allowed only the elderly to pass to perform prayers.

As a result of the Israeli restrictions, hundreds of worshipers were forced to perform prayers in the streets near the Old City.

Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that the Israeli police beat, sound bombs, tear gas and waste water attacked worshipers in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood, after preventing them from reaching Al-Aqsa.

Eyewitnesses indicated that the worshipers were performing prayers in the street, when the Israeli police attacked them.

This is the seventh Friday in a row in which the Israeli police assaulted worshipers in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood.

Israeli police officers were seen chasing worshipers in the streets and beating them.

Erdogan: We will not allow false Israeli propaganda to pass through the Turkish media

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Department, TRT Channel, and Anadolu Agency “were up to the responsibility” of covering the Israeli war on Gaza, and Erdogan congratulated all journalists who defend the truth, regardless of their nationalities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the role played by Turkish media institutions in covering the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, led by the Presidency’s Communications Department, TRT Channel, and Anadolu Agency.

This came in a video message sent by the Turkish President, on Friday, to the International Strategic Communication Summit (STRATCOM) in Istanbul.

Erdogan said that the Communications Department of the Turkish Presidency, the TRT channel, and the Anadolu Agency “were up to the responsibility” of covering the Israeli war on Gaza, adding that “Turkish journalists showed a courageous stance.”

Erdogan also congratulated all journalists who defend the truth, regardless of their nationality.

The Turkish President added, "Israel is killing journalists seeking to convey the Gaza tragedy to the world, and to date it has killed more than 60 journalists."

Erdogan pointed out that Israel targets Palestinians in Gaza and commits massacres against civilians, and that "Western media ignores the Israeli massacres and targeting of journalists."

He confirmed that the Turkish Presidency's Center for Combating Disinformation has refuted more than 100 intentionally fake news stories for Israeli propaganda.

He continued: "We will not allow false Israeli propaganda to pass through the Turkish media."

In this context, President Erdogan pointed out that Israel, which committed a war crime by cutting off electricity, water, and food to the people of Gaza, “seeks to obscure the injustice by cutting off communications from them.”

Erdogan stressed that the UN Security Council, which is charged with ensuring international peace and stability, has completely lost its effectiveness during this period, adding that the biased publications of international media institutions during the Gaza crisis are unfortunate.

He added: "Many of the media outlets that cited the October 7 incident ignored the crimes against humanity and the war committed by Israel in Gaza, and even took no position on the killing of their fellow journalists by Israeli security forces' bullets."

He continued: "I believe that this unprincipled position hurt not only the families of the journalists who lost their lives, but the entire journalism community."