Israel Tightens Access, Over 60,000 Worshippers Attend Friday Prayers at Al-Aqsa

Jerusalem - More than 60,000 worshippers performed Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem amid tight restrictions by Israeli forces, according to the Ministry of Islamic Endowments. The ministry stated that over 60,000 worshippers attended Friday prayers at the holy site as tens of thousands of Palestinians flocked to the mosque compound amidst strict Israeli restrictions at the mosque gates and throughout the Old City of Jerusalem. Israeli occupation authorities have been preventing Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray for the past three years. On 8 June, the ministry said Israeli authorities continued to violate Islamic and Christian holy sites throughout May, recording 23 incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and 74 bans on prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. According to the ministry’s monthly report, Israeli forces also imposed tighter access restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque and barred a large number of Palestinians from praying there. It was also reported that thousands of Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound through the Moroccan Gate in the morning and afternoon under heavy police escort.