Tens of thousands of Muslim worshipers performed Friday prayers at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque despite the tight Israeli restrictions.
Hundreds of Israeli occupation soldiers have been deployed at the entrance gates to the al-Aqsa Mosque since the early morning hours.
The Israeli army also pitched a series of military checkpoints where Muslim worshipers were subjected to provocative inspection.
Only 250 Gazans aged above 50 were allowed access into Occupied Jerusalem via the Israeli-controlled Beit Hanoun (Erez) border-crossing to perform their prayers at the al-Aqsa.
The Imam of the Holy al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Youssef Abu Esneineh called during his Friday’s Khutbah (sermon) for defending the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy Islamic sites.
He further spoke out against Israel’s illegal settlement activity and misappropriation of Palestinian lands across the occupied territories.
Sheikh Abu Esneineh warned of the serious repercussions of Israeli break-ins at the al-Aqsa place of worship—the third holiest site in Islam.
