Despite Israel’s strict security restrictions and massive military deployment, nearly two lakh worshipers offered Isha and Taraweeh prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan and the night of the Holy Qadr.
April 5 was the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan and the night of Lailatul Qadr. About 200,000 Muslims gather at Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform Isha and Taraweeh prayers on this night, which is better than a thousand months.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third-holiest place for Muslims around the world. And to the Jews, it is also a holy place. To them, it is known as ‘Temple Mount’. As a result, Al-Aqsa has been one of the focal points of the conflict between Palestine and Israel for ages.
Since Friday morning, Israeli forces have imposed strict restrictions on access to the holy mosque. Palestinian Muslims from the occupied West Bank are not allowed to enter Jerusalem. After verifying the identity cards of young Muslims from the Old City of Jerusalem, the Israeli forces turned many of them back. As a result, many people could not pray at Al-Aqsa.
Wafa also reported that Israeli forces turned away dozens of elderly worshipers at the Qalandiya and Bethlehem checkpoints on the pretext that they did not have the necessary Israeli permits to enter Jerusalem.
In addition, the Israeli police have strengthened their presence in the Old City and surrounding areas. On that day, around 3,600 heavily armed police officers were deployed in the Old City of Jerusalem and surrounding areas, and many roads around the Old City were closed.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police arrested 16 people for creating tension and shouting anti-Hamas slogans during Fajr prayers.
- Police said one person was arrested for throwing firecrackers. Others were caught chanting slogans in support of Hamas.
