More than 2,000 police and border guards "were deployed in Jerusalem," according to a police spokesman, adding access was blocked to the esplanade for Muslim men under the age of 45.
Access to the complex was also denied for West Bank Palestinians under the age of 35, the spokesman said, adding the measures were imposed as a precaution due to the risk of violence.
"Forty thousand Palestinians have arrived in Jerusalem since Friday morning to take part in prayers at the esplanade," said Guy Inbar, a military spokesman.
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