250,000 Muslims perform final Friday Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa

Nearly 250,000 Palestinian Muslims performed the fourth and final Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Over 3,200 police, border police and Shin Bet security agents lined the streets of Jerusalem for the safety of worshippers.

Reportedly, women of all ages, men over the age of 55 and children under 12 were allowed to enter Jerusalem from the West Bank, a landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediterranean in Western Asia, without permits to perform Friday prayers at the mosque. Many people were happy and delighted to be able to perform the fourth Friday prayer of Ramadan at the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to Arab News, many people waited for this opportunity throughout the year. For many Muslims, this was their first time in the city. During the final Friday prayer of Ramadan, Sheikh Ekrimeh Sabri, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, reportedly said, “You who came to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque from all parts of holy Palestine, you who have crossed the unjust military checkpoints, your march to the blessed Aqsa for the evening prayer and Taraweeh prayers are to remind the 2 billion Muslims of the world of the captive Al-Aqsa.”

People had to cross through four or five different entry points at the checkpoint. Some people were not allowed due to“security reasons” or due to age restrictions. Israeli police placed Iron barriers in the streets to ensure the peaceful Friday prayers of Ramadan.

According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, Israel police detained eight suspects for questioning after the prayers. They reportedly waved flags and banners supporting terror organisations and terrorism.

Earlier this month, clashes erupted at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound after Israeli police attacked Palestinians. Two more rockets were fired from the Israel-blockaded Gaza Strip towards Israel. The holy site has been a flashpoint of conflict during the Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy