Occupied Jerusalem: ‘There is no Palestinian male that hasn’t been beaten’
Al Jazeera
Violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian men in Jerusalem has increased after October 7.
Damascus Gate, occupied East Jerusalem – Samer and Omar* woke up early on Friday morning, hoping to make it to noon prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Located just 15 minutes away from their homes in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Issawiya in occupied East Jerusalem, the two young friends are among the tens of thousands of Palestinians in the city who attend Friday prayers at the mosque – one of the holiest in Islam.
But when the two arrived at Damascus Gate – the main entrance used by Palestinians to the Old City – they were stopped by Israeli forces.
“Where are you from?” the officer asked Samer and Omar, aged 22 and 28 respectively.
“Issawiya,” they replied.
