Thousands pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque on second Friday of Ramadan, despite Israeli restrictions

JERUSALEM: Thousands of Muslim worshipers performed today the Friday prayer of the second week of Ramadan in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, despite the strict and unprecedented measures imposed by the Israeli occupation on the holy city and its surroundings. The Jordan-run Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem stated that nearly 120,000 worshipers were able to reach the holy site and perform the second Friday prayer of Ramadan in the courtyards of the mosque, considered the third holiest place for Muslims worldwide. The preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Khaled Abu Jum'a, affirmed during the Friday sermon at the holy site that the Palestinian people are steadfast in their land and will thwart all plans to displace them and break their will. He emphasized that Al-Aqsa Mosque will remain a purely Islamic mosque with all its prayer areas and courtyards, and that our people's presence in the mosque undermines the Israeli occupation's schemes to Judaize it and the rest of the city of Jerusalem. S ince the early morning hours, the Israeli occupation forces imposed strict restrictions on Palestinians from the occupied West Bank entering Jerusalem to perform the Friday prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second consecutive week. The Israeli forces increased their presence at military checkpoints leading to Jerusalem, scrutinizing the identities of citizens and preventing hundreds of worshipers from reaching the holy city to perform prayers, citing lack of necessary permits. The Israeli military checkpoint at Qalandia north of Jerusalem, as well as Checkpoint 300 south of the city, witnessed light traffic compared to previous years due to the restrictions imposed by the occupation authorities. Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA