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JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- A group of volunteers say Israeli forces prevented them from cleaning areas of the Bab al-Rahmah cemetery in the eastern part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday.

Volunteers from East Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood say they were removing weeds and bushes from the northern part of the cemetery when Israeli forces arrived and stopped them cleaning the rest of the cemetery, leading to a heated argument.

The Israeli officers threatened to call in special forces, and detained 19-year-old volunteer Said Rukn. They also confiscated the ID cards of several other volunteers.

An Israeli court has prohibited burials in the southern part of the ancient cemetery, where the bodies of Prophet Mohammad's companions are believed to be buried.
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