Occupied Jerusalem – About 45,000 Palestinian worshipers performed today Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem, pledging to protect the holy site from Israeli violations.
Jerusalem’s Islamic Waqf confirmed that despite of Israeli strict restrictions, around nearly 45,000 worshipers performed the Friday prayers at the mosque, today.
After performing the prayers, the worshipers gathered at the holy site courtyards, raised the flag of Palestine and chanted slogans in support of the mosque and against Israeli occupation’s violations.
Local sources reported that well-armed Israeli forces harassed Palestinian worshipers heading to the holy site, earlier today. They also searched and confiscated their ID Cards after deploying in the streets of the city and in the vicinity of the mosque.
Moreover, local sources reported that the forces brutally attacked a Jerusalemite youth at the Al-Asbat Gate, one of the mosque’s gates.
The holy site had been, last month, the centre of days of aggressions amid heightened tensions following a series of raids and attacks in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Israeli aggressions included holding the annual far-right “Flag March” on May 29.
The occupation authorities have allowed settlers’ incursions to the holy site intensively since 2003.
In 2021, 34,562 settlers broke into the holy site, setting a new record, according to Al-Qastal. 19,000 settlers broke into the mosque in 2020 while 29,700 settlers in 2019.
Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times. The complex also includes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the most sacred Christian sites in the world.
