Occupied Jerusalem: Thousands of Palestinians performed the first Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan today at Al Aqsa Mosque, amid stringent military measures imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities to restrict access to the mosque.
The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem estimated that around 90,000 people attended Friday prayer at Al Aqsa Mosque.
Occupation forces were heavily deployed around the military checkpoints leading to the mosque, preventing a large number of worshippers from West Bank from entering and inspecting their personal IDs.
Additionally, thousands of Israeli police officers were stationed in the alleyways of the Old City of Jerusalem, around Al-Aqsa Mosque, and at its gates.
Since the ceasefire in Gaza Strip came into effect on January 19, the Israeli occupation forces have intensified their military measures in West Bank, including Jerusalem, by setting up barriers and iron gates at the entrances to Palestinian villages and cities.