Jerusalem’s Islamic Endowment Department on Thursday celebrated the Hijri New Year at holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Hundreds of Palestinian worshipers and scholars attended the celebration at the third holiest site in Islam.
Speakers at the event condemned the unending Israeli attacks on al-Aqsa stressing the site’s exclusively Islamic character.
Al-Aqsa’s Imam Sheikh Ekrema Sabri harked back to last year’s anti-occupation uprising carried out by the Palestinians in response to Israel’s simmering assaults on al-Aqsa Mosque.
“The Palestinians manifested a deep-seated sense of self-negation and commitment to their holy sites despite the unbearable pains inflicted by Israel’s oppressive policies” said Sabri.
The Imam further called for reviving the Sirah (legacy) of Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him who preached the values of peace love and unity.
He expressed wishes that the Palestinians would heal the rift and combine forces for the sake of the Palestinian cause.
