The Palestinian Basem Kanaana traveled from his hometown of Kafr Qara in 1948 occupied Palestinian lands to the occupied city of Jerusalem to pray in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. The journey started Tuesday at 11:30 PM and lasted about 9 hours.  

“I had a dream that I would ride my bicycle from my town Kafr Qara to occupied Jerusalem to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque and I am now fulfilling my dream after I went out and traveled a distance of 115 km,” Kanaana said. 

“I arrived at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, prayed in its courtyards, and took a rest. Now I’m on my way back to my town and I have about 4 hours of traveling by bicycle.” Kanaana noted.

He added that he chose this day to travel using a bicycle because the streets are empty of cars which makes cycling easier. 

“I usually ride my bicycle in mountains and for me to ride on the street is an unparalleled pleasure.” 

He continued that the total distance back and forth from Kafr Qara to occupied Jerusalem is 230 km, noting that this is his first experience traveling to occupied Jerusalem and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. 

“Last year, Palestinians went on a bicycle path from Kafr Qara to the occupied city of Jaffa, and this year I went alone to occupied Jerusalem,” Kanaana noted.