Israel bans Palestinian men aged 12 to 40 from Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque

Israel on Tuesday banned Palestinian males between the ages of 12 and 40 in the occupied West Bank from entering the Al-Aqsa mosque for Friday prayers during the month of Ramadan.

Palestinian women, children under 12 and men older than 50 can enter occupied East Jerusalem without permission if they would like to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque on Fridays, according to Anadolu Agency which cited the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (Cogat).

Men between 40 and 50 years old are required to obtain special permission to enter the mosque, it added.

Palestinians with first-degree relatives in Israel will be given permits to visit on Sunday and Thursday, Cogat said in the report, adding that further expansion of the permit will be discussed at a meeting next week between Defence Minister Benny Gantz and security officials.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are required to obtain special permission to visit holy sites, including the Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and to visit relatives inside Israel.

To exit the occupied West Bank, Palestinians must use one of 23 checkpoints.