Hawzah News Agency (Occupied Palestine) - The confrontation erupted on Sunday after Israeli troops stepped up their presence at the courtyards of the al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented the entry of Palestinian worshipers to the holy site by installing large barriers.

The regime forces also attacked Palestinians at Bab al-Asbat (Lions Gate) of the Old City of al-Quds.

This year, only officials from the Islamic Waqf (Endowment) organization managed to perform the Eid prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Each year, tens of thousands of Palestinians pray at the al-Aqsa Mosque on Eid al-Fitr, but the compound has remained closed this year over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, Israeli officials opposed the holding of the Eid prayers at the site even under strict health safeguards.

The Palestinians prayed outside the closed gates leading to the al-Aqsa Mosque while Israeli police, some in riot gear, guarded the entrances to the compound, according to reports.

Eid al-Fitr marks the beginning of the lunar month of Shawwal and the end of Ramadan, during which Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and other corporal pleasures from dawn to dusk.