AhlulBayt News Agency: The Islamic Endowment Authority affirmed that around 90,000 Muslims performed the first Friday prayer in the holy month of Ramadan at the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
Palestinian worshipers were stopped for long hours at the Israeli Qalandiya checkpoint, which separates the occupied West Bank from Occupied Jerusalem, despite the stormy weather.
Several worshipers were permitted to pass the checkpoint to head to the Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Israeli police earlier announced its intention to deploy 3,000 police forces on Friday, in Occupied Jerusalem, prior to the Friday prayer.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has also announced his government will limit the number of worshipers from the occupied West Bank who are allowed to enter Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayer.
Under the new restrictions, only men over 55, women over 50 and children under 12 will be permitted to enter on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
However, access will be contingent upon obtaining prior security clearances and undergoing thorough security checks at designated checkpoints.
The decision coincides with ongoing daily incursions by hundreds of Israeli settlers into the Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy month alongside increasing restrictions on Palestinians travelling from the occupied West Bank.
Earlier, Palestinian calls have been launched to intensify Palestinian presence at the Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan and to thwart Israeli Judaization plans.
The calls also stressed the importance of protecting the holy Islamic site in light of the escalating Israeli threats against Islamic sanctities.
/129
Your Comment