The gas bombs and concussion grenades that Israeli forces fired in East Jerusalem's Tur neighborhood on Monday did not distinguish between children and adults or men and women. ince Israeli forces began the more noticeable phase of destruction at Al Aqsa Mosque's Moroccans Gate, repression is up throughout the city.

Throughout the week Israeli forces have imposed additional checkpoints, males under 45 years old cannot approach the Mosque, while sometimes that applies to females as well, arrests have skyrocketed and demonstrations are met with violence.

And today is no better as Muslims are facing major restrictions on freedom of movement and worship as they try to reach Al Aqsa Mosque for noon prayers and demonstrations.

Hundreds of people are surrounded by Israeli forces in the Old City while bus loads more are trying to get through. But there are dozens of additional checkpoints throughout the city and most people are not able to pass. Arrests and injuries are expected to increase today.

Lying in a house in Ras Al Amud is a blind man. Israeli forces hit the citizen, Mr. Mashal, in the head with a gas bomb on Monday causing him to lose his sight.

Mashal described what happened in the neighborhood that he described as both residential and commercial with private homes, a school and several businesses, including a hospital. “I left a building with colleagues heading toward the main street. We heard the sound of shots and our eyes, lungs and skin filled with gas. We found a clear area where the air helped mitigate the impact of the gas.”

He continued, “After we rested for a few minutes we felt well enough to continue our walk until we reached the crossroads. Suddenly the sound of firing returned, but we didn't know from where it came. We parted ways.”

It was then that Mashal's major injury occurred. “After that I felt my head hit with a gas bomb. I didn't know where to go. My head was wet. There was gas all around, but I couldn't see anything through the haze of it and the smell, the stinging and tears. I ran in circles maybe. I don't know.”

Others nearby saw that the man was badly injured and rushed him into the Emergency Room at East Jerusalem's Maqassed Hospital.

Mohammad Abdel Rahman Al Rajabi has been hospitalized at Maqassed for a week. The 60 year old resident of Jerusalem's Beit Hanina fell into a coma after Israeli forces beat him last Friday at the home of Al Aqsa Mosque, Al Haram Ash Sharif.

Medical sources told PNN that Al Rajabi's condition has not improved since he arrived comatose after having been beaten, but is stable.”