Worshipers and pilgrims reached the mosque in the old city of Jerusalem al-Quds and heightened security measures by the Israeli forces. Earlier in the day two Palestinians were killed by Israel’s security forces.

A Palestinian teen was shot dead when he was trying to enter the old city and pray at the compound also known as Haram al-Sharif.  A second teenager was shot to death as he was similarly trying to reach the Friday prayers. Israeli forces also opened fire and injured a young Palestinian man at the Beit Jala district, in Jerusalem al-Quds.

The Friday prayers sermons at Haram al-Sharif was preached by Sheikh Ekrama Sabri where he issued a message of defiance: “This is a message to all those who wish to take over Al-Aqsa Mosque and to the attackers and those who storm it: don’t exhaust yourselves, you will never have control over one inch of Al-Aqsa, it is a red line.”

Elsewhere in the occupied territories, the Israeli army tightened its grip at the check point connecting the West Bank city of Bethlehem to the old town of Jerusalem al-Quds. Images released online, depicted hundreds of worshipers waiting to be allowed to enter the compound.

Israeli occupied the eastern side of the city of Jerusalem al-Quds from Jordan in 1967 and later annexed it to the Western side, which it sees as Israel’s eternal capital. Apart from the United States, Palestinians as well as the international community do not recognize Israel’s claim on the old city and consider it as an occupied city.