Israel has decided to ban the entry of residents of the Gaza Strip who wish to participate in the Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque following Tuesday night's rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Israel had planned to allow some 500 male and female residents of Gaza, all at least 40 years old, to enter Israel on Thursday and attend the prayer services on Friday.

The Coordinator of Government Activity in the Territories (COGAT), Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai said the situation at the Erez border crossing is not safe because of the rocket fire, causing Israel to forbid the entry of Palestinians from Gaza this week, Haaretz reported Wednesday.