The Israeli occupation police on Friday morning imposed tight restrictions on the access of Muslim worshipers to the Old City of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque to observe the Friday khutba (sermon) and prayer.

A spokesperson for the police said that only men over age 50 and women of all ages would be allowed to enter the Old City and the Aqsa Mosque compound.

Meanwhile, more police forces and special security units were deployed in the Old City of Jerusalem, especially at the entrances to the Aqsa Mosque.

The police also prevented in the morning several buses carrying Palestinian citizens from the 1948 occupied lands from heading for Jerusalem and forced it to return.

The police justified its measures by claiming they were aimed at preventing possible disturbances from happening on Friday.