40,000 Perform Friday Prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque

SadaNews - Thousands of citizens performed the Friday prayer at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque amidst the strict military measures imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities on access to the mosque.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem estimated that around 40,000 worshipers performed the Friday prayer in the precincts of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces hindered worshipers' access to Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray through the Damascus and Lions' Gates, checked their identities, and detained a number of young men, preventing them from entering the mosque.

Also, settlers performed provocative dances and songs at the Lions' Gate concurrently with the arrival of worshipers to the mosque.

The same sources added that the occupation forces detained the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Chief Justice of the city of Jerusalem, Iyad Al-Abbasi, as he was leaving the mosque due to his remarks on the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip during the Friday sermon, before releasing him later.

The occupation forces continue to impose strict restrictions on the entry of worshipers into Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially during Fridays.

The occupation authorities deprive thousands of citizens from the West Bank provinces of accessing Jerusalem to perform prayers at Al-Aqsa by requiring special permits to cross their military checkpoints surrounding the holy city.