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7 photos credited to Maan News

Video: Crossing Qalandiya Checkpoint, first Friday of Ramadan

4 photos creidted to ActiveStills, published by 972May:

Palestinian women cross Qalandiya checkpoint, a main crossing point between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah, as they head to Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first Friday prayer of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, June 10, 2016. (photo: Ahmad al-Bazz/Activestills.org)

An Israeli Border Policemen directs Palestinian woman through Qalandiya checkpoint as they head to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, June 10, 2016. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

A Palestinian man speaks with an Israeli Border Policeman as he attempts to cross through Qalandiya checkpoint, a main crossing point between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah, as they head to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque for the first Friday prayer of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, June 10, 2016. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

A Palestinian man crosses Qalandiya checkpoint, a main crossing point between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah, as they head to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque for the first Friday prayer of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, June 10, 2016. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli authorities on Friday permitted Palestinian men above the age of 45 and women of all ages to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, while Palestinian men between the ages of 35 and 45 were only allowed entrance if they held Israeli-issued permits to attend prayers on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Thousands of other Palestinians were prevented from crossing at checkpoints, which were sealed following a deadly attack in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Palestinian police spokesman Luay Irzeiqat told Ma’an that some 7,000 Palestinians were allowed entry into occupied East Jerusalem for Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa until 10 am through the 300 checkpoint in northern Bethlehem.

Irzeiqat added that Palestinian police forces were deployed near the checkpoint in order to organize and guide the entry of Palestinians, while handing out hats to protect them from the heat.

Several Palestinians who were prevented entry into Jerusalem said they would not give up on performing Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as others stated they would perform the Friday prayers at Israeli military checkpoints.

The Israeli army announced a military closure on the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip on Friday, with the exception of humanitarian and medical cases. Gazans who had previously been allowed to go pray at Al-Aqsa saw their permits frozen for Ramadan.

However, an army spokesperson told Ma’an that Palestinians from the West Bank holding Israeli-issued permits would be allowed to attend prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday despite the closure.
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by ActiveStills

Despite Israel revoking tens of thousands of entry permits, some Palestinian worshippers were able to travel from the West Bank to Jerusalem to mark the first Friday of Ramadan.

Photos by Ahmad al-Bazz, Oren Ziv / Activestills.org
Text by Oren Ziv

Published by 972Mag

Thousands of Palestinians crossed through Qalandiya Checkpoint in the West Bank to Jerusalem on Friday, to participate in the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, the holy Muslim month of fasting, at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Buses from across the West Bank brought worshippers to the checkpoint, which they then crossed on foot. On the other side of checkpoint were buses that took them to Jerusalem’s Old City.

On Thursday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a series of retributive actions following the shooting attack by two young Palestinians in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday, which left four Israelis dead. Netanyahu’s ordered the revoking of 80,000 entry permits that had been previously issued to West Bank Palestinians over Ramadan. On Friday Israeli authorities restricted entry to Jerusalem to Palestinian men over 45, while all Palestinian women were allowed to cross.

The number of Palestinians who arrived at the checkpoint was relatively small, as most of the Palestinian public is still unsure of the criteria for entering Jerusalem. In previous years the second, third, and fourth Fridays of Ramadan brought with them large amounts of worshippers from across the West Bank, often leading to long waiting times at the checkpoint.

On Friday morning Hebrew-language news websites ran headlines declaring the IDF had put the West Bank under full closure due to the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, as well as in response to the shooting attack. However, those who read the articles in full discovered that the closure did not apply to those who came to pray at Al-Aqsa. Furthermore, the 80,000 cancelled permits did not apply to Palestinians who travel to Jerusalem on the weekends for purposes of worship.

As opposed to previous years in which Palestinian youth found ways to climb over the separation wall and reach Jerusalem, on Friday morning large police forces were stationed on the Jerusalem side of the wall in order to prevent them from doing so.