100,<> worshippers perform the first Friday prayers of the Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque

image

The Jerusalem Waqf Directorate said that about a hundred thousand worshippers performed the first Friday prayers of the month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque after Israel eased the conditions for entering the holy city.

Since the early morning hours, thousands of Palestinians have flocked to the holy city through several surrounding military checkpoints, which are surrounded by a concrete wall and barbed wire.

Israeli police deployed many of their officers on the roads leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem and closed many roads to cars to facilitate the arrival of the large number of buses to the vicinity of the Old City.

Sheikh Mohammed Salim, a Friday preacher at al-Aqsa Mosque, said, "The month of Ramadan is a month of peace and security for Muslims."

"O sons of our people, O Arabs and Muslims, unite your word on the heart of one man in support of your religion, victory for your Jerusalem, victory for your extremes, support for causes and pride for yourselves," he added.

Sheikh Salim continued, "Your crowds that marched to Al-Aqsa Mosque today are a real referendum that Al-Aqsa is your extreme, that Al-Masra and your path, and that you are the people of Jerusalem and its environs, do not accept anyone else and do not accept an alternative to you."

Israel allowed women of all ages, men over the age of 55 and children under the age of twelve from the West Bank to access Jerusalem without permits for Friday prayers marking the month of Ramadan.