 Israeli troops stationed around Al-Aqsa mosque scuffled with scores of Palestinians attempting to cross military checkpoints and barricades and perform the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the holy site.
Witnesses said more than 3,000 Israeli troops were deployed at gates and entrances of the holy site, trying to prevent young Palestinians from crossing into the courtyard of the mosque. The extraordinary precautions resulted in fist fighting between the troops and waves of incoming worshippers. Palestinians aged no less than 50 were allowed to get through the checkpoints and the young were kept away. Many came aboard buses of the Islamic movement in Hebron.| That means Hamas, I think. |
Israeli sources said up to 90,000 worshippers made it to the mosque and performed the religious services, but Islamic Palestinian authorities put the number at 40,000. Israel had declared that it would facilitate entry of the worshippers on the occasion. |