Resilience Amid Restrictions: 125,000 Palestinians Attend Friday Prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque
Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, the director-general of the Islamic Endowments Department in al-Quds, noted that this attendance figure was lower than usual for this time of Ramadan. Last year, an estimated 250,000 worshipers had participated on the same day.
The occupied city of al-Quds saw a heavy deployment of Israeli military forces at various points, including entrances, surroundings, and alleys. Additionally, external gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque were closely monitored, Anadolu Agency reported.
Entry permissions were granted by Israeli authorities only to men over the age of 55 and women over 50 who sought to enter occupied East al-Quds.
During his Friday sermon, Sheikh Yusuf Abu Sneineh, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, criticized the international community's lack of action regarding the occupation regime’s actions in Gaza. The ongoing military campaign has left Palestinians facing severe famine for nearly six months.
More than 32,600 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza since early October as the relentless attacks have caused extensive destruction and displacement.
In an interim ruling issued in January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Tel Aviv to cease genocidal acts and ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The court's recent order emphasizes the urgent need for unhindered access to basic services, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, as the situation reaches critical levels.
Source: Agencies
