Thousands of Palestinians Defy Israeli Restrictions, Perform Ramadan Prayers at Al-Aqsa
They performed Taraweeh, special night prayers that are performed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem al-Quds said more than 100,000 worshippers attended the prayers on the second Friday of Ramadan.
The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, said Israeli forces were heavily deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in an attempt to hinder access to the mosque.
It added that the Israeli authorities continue to ban Red Crescent teams from erecting its field clinic in the mosque to provide medical services to worshippers.
Tel Aviv has restricted Palestinian worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque amid growing tensions across the occupied West Bank due to the Israeli regime army’s ongoing offensive on the Gaza Strip that started on Oct. 7.
The Israeli onslaught has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians.
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Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
Source: Anadolu Agency
