Tens of thousands of Palestinians were able to perform the Friday prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem on Friday, despite Israeli security measures that restricted access to the holy site.

According to the Islamic Awqaf Administration, approximately 70,000 Muslim worshipers gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque to attend the Friday khutba (sermon) and congregational prayers.

Palestinian worshipers arrived from Jerusalem and surrounding areas from the early morning hours, while many others attempted to reach the mosque despite extensive Israeli security deployments at the entrances to the Old City and around the Al-Aqsa compound.

Witnesses said Israeli occupation police established checkpoints, conducted identity checks and imposed movement restrictions that prevented thousands of Palestinians from accessing the mosque. Numerous worshipers from the occupied West Bank were reportedly denied entry into occupied Jerusalem to attend Friday prayers.

Despite the restrictions, thousands succeeded in reaching the mosque, filling its courtyards for the weekly congregational prayer.

Palestinian sources said a number of Jerusalemite men and women who have been subjected to Israeli bans preventing them from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque were forced to perform Friday prayers in the streets surrounding the holy site after being denied access.

Israeli authorities have repeatedly imposed restrictions on Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly during periods of heightened tensions, citing security considerations. Palestinian officials and religious authorities have condemned the measures, describing them as violations of the right to freedom of worship and attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo governing the holy site.

Al-Aqsa Mosque remains a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and holds profound religious significance for Muslims worldwide. The compound has witnessed repeated confrontations in recent years amid increased restrictions, frequent incursions by Israeli settlers under police protection and growing tensions in occupied East Jerusalem.

Despite the restrictions, Palestinian worshipers continued to gather at the mosque, reaffirming the religious and spiritual significance of Al-Aqsa as one of Islam's holiest sites and a central symbol of Palestinian identity and resilience. (ILKHA)