On Saturday, the Israeli police announced the “neutralization of a suspect” who tried to seize an Israeli policeman’s weapon in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The incident took place near Chain Gate, one of the doors leading to the Temple Mount, according to the police.
The police said in a brief statement: “The suspect was neutralized at the scene and no one among our forces was injured,” while passers-by said they heard gunshots.
Just before 1:00 am (22:00 GMT Friday), an AFP photographer saw regarding 100 Israeli policemen deployed in the alleys of the Old City.
The incident took place following worshipers gathered to perform the noon prayer on the second Friday of the month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, amid Israeli police reinforcements inside and around the city.
The Israeli police said that “more than 100,000 worshipers gathered there, double the number of worshipers on the second Friday of Ramadan last year.”
In recent weeks, several foreign consulates have expressed concern regarding the possibility of violence.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli forces control the entrances to the site, which is administered by the Islamic Endowments Department of Jordan.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, while Jews refer to it as the “Temple Mount” and consider it their holiest religious site.
The mosque witnesses from time to time tensions between worshipers and the Israeli police because of the Palestinians’ refusal to allow Jews to enter and pray in it, considering this step as a provocation to them.