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Live Blog Update| Inside Israel
This is an entry from: LIVE BLOG: Jerusalem on the brink

Round-up of events overnight on Thursday:

  • The funeral last night of Mu'taz Hijazi, shot by Israeli forces on Thursday morning, was attended by hundreds of mostly young Palestinian men, who pushed through the barriers to bury Hijazi's body in spite of restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities.

Photo credit: MEE / Oren Ziv and Yotam Ronen
  • Hamas in Hebron, a West Bank town some 50 kilometres north of Jerusalem, have called for a march "in support of al-Aqsa" after Friday prayers today. The tagline of the march call-out is "al-Aqsa is a responsibilty for us all."
  • Israeli police have set up checkpoints on the roads leading to Jerusalem, fearing that Friday prayers could be a flashpoint for anger among Palestinians seeking to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque.
  • Israel has withdrawn its envoy from Sweden, after the Swedish Parliament on Thursday voted to recognise the state of Palestine.
  • al-Aqsa Mosque, the closure of which yesterday ignited tensions, was open for dawn prayers on Friday to women of all ages and men over the age of 50.