Hundreds of Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip traveled to occupied East Jerusalem today, the last Friday of Ramadan, to attend prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinian sources revealed.
380 Palestinian worshipers, all above the age of 50, arrived at the Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Erez crossing.
Officials added that 80 Palestinians would stay on till Saturday to pray during Laylat al-Qadr, a particularly holy day during the Muslim holiday when it is believed that the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Last Friday of #Ramadan , tens of thousands of Palestinians will pray at al Aqsa Mosque in #Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/nn2aLhR2KT
— Nasser Atta (@nasseratta5) July 1, 2016
Israeli authorities had announced plans last month to allow hundreds of additional Gazans to attend prayers in Jerusalem for Laylat al-Qadr, but then cancelled permit coordination following an attack in Tel Aviv.
More than 1.8 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are prevented from travel outside of the enclave due to a decade long military blockade imposed by Israel and upheld by Egypt on the southern border.
(PC, MA’AN)
