Palestinians perform last Friday prayer of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque

16:2229/04/2022, Cuma
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File photo
File photo

Palestinians under age 40 from West Bank were denied access to Al-Aqsa by Israeli forces

Palestinian worshippers performed the last Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Israeli restrictions.

"160,000 worshippers performed the fourth Friday prayer of the month of Ramadan in Al-Aqsa Mosque," Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib, director general of the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem, told Anadolu Agency.

Thousands of Israeli troops were deployed in East Jerusalem and in its Old City near Al-Aqsa.

Early on Friday, clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces inside Al-Aqsa. Forty-two Palestinians were injured, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

On Thursday, the Israeli authorities denied access to Al-Aqsa to Palestinians from the West Bank under the age of 40.

For many years, the prayers at Al-Aqsa have been restricted to East Jerusalem residents, the Arab areas in Israel and a limited number of West Bank Palestinians who obtain special permits, while the residents of the Gaza Strip are denied access altogether.

Al-Aqsa is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar

#Palestinians
#Ramadan
#Al-Aqsa Mosque