Officers dispersed a crowd outside Jerusalem’s Old City on Friday after Muslim worshippers exceeded the authorized capacity and appeared to approach security perimeters, according to a statement by Israel Police.
According to the statement, which was posted on X/Twitter, officers stepped in only after the gathering exceeded approved limits, raising concerns about overcrowding in an area with little to no access to protected shelter.
The group had been conducting prayers for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which commemorates the conclusion of Ramadan, a month-long period of sunrise-to-sunset fasting for Muslims.
Earlier in the day, police said the prayers had been permitted on the street outside the Old City without intervention, despite the "high-alert" situation.
Police said officers used dispersal measures in accordance with the IDF Home Front Command guidelines to "prevent a dangerous overcrowding situation," citing the risk of missile sirens and falling munitions that could occur without warning.
“Our priority remains the safety of all residents and the maintenance of public order,” police said, adding that the dispersal was carried out “solely for the safety of the public.”
The incident comes as security forces remain on heightened alert and continue enforcing wartime safety restrictions in public spaces.
Shrapnel from Iranian missile falls in Old City
A fragment from an intercepted Iranian missile fell in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem on Friday, after sirens sounded across Jerusalem and the northern West Bank.
The IDF Home Front Command confirmed that the impact affected a site adjacent to the Temple Mount.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit posted footage of the fall on Instagram, noting the "indiscriminate" nature of Iranian ballistic missile fire.
No injuries were reported in the incident.