JERUSALEM, July 23, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli police Thursday assaulted a Palestinian elderly and maltreated him at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to local sources.

Sources said Khair Shimi, a Palestinian elderly, was present at al-Aqsa Mosque compound when Israeli police officers treated him cruelly while attempting to detain him. According to sources, police guards suspected that Shimi is listed as one of those denied entry to the Mosque, but he was released later during the day.

The incident came as illegal Jewish settlers entered the yards of the Mosque in yet another routine and provocative visit, during which police prevented many Palestinians from entering the holy site.

Many Palestinian worshipers who stay at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan and throughout the year have received banning orders from the Israeli court, preventing them from entering or praying at the holy site.

Sources in Jerusalem reported that Israel has put together a black list of all activists and worshipers who remain at Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened to impose grave sanctions on them and their families, including the demolition of their homes.

Three days ago, settle groups, known as ‘Temple’ organizations, resumed their daily provocative visits to al-Aqsa after they had been denied entry there during the last 10 days of the holy month of Ramadan.

Settlers’ provocative visits to the holy site last year sparked a spike of violence in the holy city, during which hundreds of Palestinians were apprehended by Israeli police.

M.N/M.H