Israeli police have banned access to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to Palestinians under the age of 45, fearing disturbances during Friday prayers following the assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
"This measure, which does not affect women, was decided after receiving information that young Palestinians were planning demonstrations," a police spokesman told AFP Friday.
Security reinforcements were deployed around the mosque compound, the disputed site holy to both Muslims and Jews where the intifada broke out three and half years ago.
The police spokesman stressed that access to the site was currently restricted to Palestinians from east Jerusalem, since the West Bank and Gaza Strip were completely sealed off following Yassin's killing on Monday.
Since Hamas leaders vowed bloody retaliation for the assassination of the Islamist movement's founder, Israeli security services have been on high alert across the country.
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