Israeli occupation bar worshipers from reaching the Aqsa Mosque

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- IOF troops closed on Friday the gates leading to the Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem, allowing through only men over 50 years of age.
Only a few hundred out of around 30,000 worshipers managed to reach the Aqsa Mosque for the Friday noon prayers, this is not taking account of worshipers from the rest of the West Bank who could not enter Jerusalem.
At Bab al-Amoud, a young man was beaten by IOF troops because he argued with them when they stopped him from entering the gate on his way to the Mosque. The beating resulted in head injuries and he was taken to hospital, according to local sources.
Eyewitnesses said that IOF troops confiscated ID cards at the gates of the Aqsa Mosque compound causing worshipers to scuffle with the IOF troops. The scuffles developed into confrontations between the worshipers who were not allowed in and the IOF troops, especially at the gates of Asbat, Hitta and Saherah. The clashes resulted in a number of casualties amongst the worshipers.
Locals also said that a number of worshipers sustained injuries at Hitta gate when IOF troops physically assaulted them with truncheons.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation police declared that an operations room was setup at the Buraq wall police station under the direct supervision of the commander of the Jerusalem brigade Major-General Aharon Franco.
The Israeli occupation police also used a surveillance balloon as well as helicopters over the old city.
Israeli radio had announced that the Israeli police will only allow those who are over fifty with blue ID cards (Jerusalem residents) to enter the Mosque.