DaysofPal — Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered Friday evening at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem to perform the Isha and Taraweeh prayers, defying heightened security measures imposed by Israeli authorities.
According to the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, approximately 60,000 worshippers attended the prayers at the mosque compound on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan. The large turnout came despite strict entry restrictions and an intensified security presence around the site.
Throughout the evening, worshippers streamed in from various neighborhoods across Jerusalem, as well as from areas inside Israel, commonly referred to as the 1948 territories. However, Israeli forces reportedly barred young men from entering the compound through Bab al-Silsila (Chain Gate) shortly before the Isha and Taraweeh prayers began, preventing many from accessing the mosque.
In recent weeks, Israeli authorities have escalated what observers describe as a policy of collective bans and so-called “preventive” arrests. These measures have coincided with tighter restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa and efforts to curb traditional Ramadan celebrations and welcoming rituals in the city.
Meanwhile, officials and local sources say Israeli authorities are moving forward with efforts to impose what they describe as a new reality inside the mosque compound. They argue that such steps aim to reshape the religious landscape of the site in ways that undermine its long-standing historical and legal status quo.
Despite these measures, thousands of Palestinians continued to gather at Al-Aqsa on Friday night, marking the start of Ramadan with prayers in one of Islam’s holiest sites.
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