300.000 Muslim Worshipers Perform Friday Prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Al-Quds, 21 Ramadan 1438/16 June 2015 (MINA) – Over 300,000 Muslim worshipers, from the West Bank and 1948 Occupied Palestine in addition to a limited number from the besieged Gaza Strip, performed Friday prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem amid tightened Israeli measures, according to the Islamic Endowment Department in Occupied Jerusalem.

Israeli police tightened it grip on Jerusalem’s Old City and checkpoints connecting the holy city with the West Bank, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported.

Thousands of Israeli policemen cordoned off the main access roads to the Old City leading to severe traffic jam in the early morning hours.

Thousands of Palestinians especially the youth were banned from accessing al-Aqsa Mosque for worship. Men aged below 40 years old and children above 12 years old were banned entry into the site.

Israeli forces arrested a number of Palestinian youths who tried to pass through Qalandiya military barrier between the cities of Ramallah and Occupied Jerusalem.

Only 100 Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip were allowed access to al-Aqsa Mosque via Beit Hanoun crossing north of the coastal enclave.

Director of al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, said the arrival of large numbers of worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque is a normal response to Israeli offensive practices in Occupied Jerusalem.

He told Quds Press that the Endowment Department arranged all required preparations to receive large numbers of worshipers.(T/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)