JERUSALEM, May 13, 2018 (WAFA) – The Israeli Court of Magistrate banned nine Islamic Waqf employees from entering al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the Old City of Jerusalem for 120 days and to pay a fine of about $300 each, according to Wadi Hilweh Information Center (WHIC).

This came after Israeli police arrested six Palestinians who were protesting outside Bab al-Rahma Islamic Cemetery in the Old City of Jerusalem in condemnation of Israel’s recent excavations in the cemetery.

The Israeli Nature Authority started work at the cemetery at the beginning of May, digging and removing graves in order to build a park at the site.

The cemetery has been there for centuries and has graves of important Muslim leaders.

Israeli police occasionally restrict entry of Palestinian worshipers to al-Aqsa Mosque in the city and ban entry of the Jordan-run Islamic Waqf personnel, in charge of running the compound.

M.N./T.R.