Al-Quds (Antara/WAFA-OANA) - Israeli police kept up its campaign against Palestinian residents of occupied Jerusalem and employees of the Waqf department, which is in charge of Muslim property in the city, over its botched effort to keep Bab al-Rahma gate inside Al-Aqsa compound closed and off to Palestinian worshippers.

The latest victim of the police campaign was a guard of Al-Aqsa Mosque identified as Samer Qabbani, who was detained today and taken to an Israeli police station as he was leaving the mosque compound for his alleged role in reopening the Bab al-Rahma for worship after police closed it again today.

Police detained over 60 Palestinians in the last few days for their alleged involvement in reopening Bab al-Rahma building for worship for the first time in 16 years following Israeli police closure under feeble pretexts.

Thousands of Palestinians held the Friday prayer at the building vowing to keep it open at all times for prayer despite Israeli police objections and threats.

Palestinians fear Israel closed the building, which is in the heart of Al-Aqsa compound, in order to eventually turn it over into a Jewish temple, a step strongly opposed by Palestinians and Muslims around the world who consider Al-Aqsa compound, Islam's third holiest site, a purely Muslim worship area.

Related News: PLO condemns tour of US and Israeli officials in occupied Jerusalem

Related News: Jewish settlers storm Jerusalem`s Aqsa compound

Reporter: antara
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
Copyright © ANTARA 2019