There were clashes between Palestinians and police in and around Jerusalem’s Old City and at least one arrest was made, as Muslim prayers on the Temple Mount went ahead on Friday while authorities tried to limit the number of worshipers due to the coronavirus emergency measures currently in place.

The outdoor areas of the holy site, known to Muslims as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, were open to Friday prayers even as most other major Muslim shrines around the world were shuttered amid the pandemic. Worshipers gathered in small groups, but rain forced them to gather in sheltered spots in violation of Health Ministry rules.

Meanwhile, many Palestinians staged often-violent mass protests outside the Old City after police prevented them from reaching the site and closed the Old City doors to anyone except local residents.

Police used riot-control methods to disperse the crowd.

Source: Times of Israel