Israeli forces imposed a strict siege on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City of Jerusalem and prevented its employees from entering the mosque and carrying out their work for the third day in a row.

Israeli forces arrested Saturday night an employee of the fire department at Al-Aqsa Mosque at Mazmuriya military checkpoint in central occupied Jerusalem.

Dozens of Jerusalemites performed the dawn prayer at the nearest point of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which they could reach. The people of Jerusalem are waiting to allow them to enter the mosque this afternoon after they were prevented from entering it by a decision of the occupation forces in punitive action as a result of the shooting operation on Friday morning in the blessed mosque.

The Israeli forces announced on Saturday its intention to open the doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims and the settlers' intrusions gradually starting from noon today. The decision includes the installation of electronic gates for detecting the metal as well as surveillance cameras in the squares of Al-Aqsa.

 Three Arab Israeli assailants opened fire on Israeli police Friday in Jerusalem's Old City before fleeing to the nearby Haram al-Sharif, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, where they were shot dead by security forces.
Israeli authorities said they had come from the holy site, which includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, to commit the attack.
It was among the most serious incidents in recent years in Jerusalem and heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
Israel took the highly unusual decision to close the Al-Aqsa mosque compound for Friday prayers, leading to anger from Muslims and Jordan, the holy site's custodian.
It remained closed on Saturday, while parts of Jerusalem's Old City were also under lockdown.
Israeli authorities said the closure was necessary to carry out security checks.
The site was to be reopened around noon on Sunday.

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