Tens of Thousands Palestinian Perform the Final Friday Prayer of Sha‘ban at Al-Aqsa

Tens of thousands gathered at Al-Aqsa for the final Friday of Sha‘ban, defying occupation restrictions, military checkpoints, and settler incursions around Jerusalem.

Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Tens of thousands of Palestinians performed the final Friday prayer of the month of Sha‘ban at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its courtyards, despite strict restrictions imposed by the occupation authorities on those seeking to access the site.

Since the early morning hours, occupation forces enforced tightened measures on worshippers passing through military checkpoints surrounding Jerusalem, and erected iron barriers around the Old City and at the gates of the mosque.

Occupation forces were also deployed along the Friday Market Road, obstructing the movement of residents heading toward Al-Aqsa, while stopping young men at Bab al-Sahira as they attempted to enter the mosque.

Settler Incursions and Continued Palestinian Presence at Al-Aqsa

At the same time as the prayer, armed settlers stormed al-Ghazali Square near Bab al-Asbat (the Lions’ Gate), in the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Meanwhile, convoys of buses departed this morning from towns across the Palestinian interior toward Al-Aqsa to perform prayers and maintain presence (ribat), reaffirming Muslims’ commitment to their right of access to the mosque and to protecting it from attacks by occupation forces and settlers. (PW)