Thousands of Palestinian worshipers gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first Friday prayers after a closure that lasted more than five weeks, Anadolu reports.

Israel announced on Wednesday that it will reopen the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in occupied East Jerusalem starting Thursday morning, allowing entry for the first time in 40 days after restrictions imposed during the US and Israel’s war against Iran.

Large crowds began arriving in the early hours of the morning, filling the mosque’s courtyards with men, women, children and elderly worshipers in a reflection of Palestinians’ willingness to return after a prolonged absence.

During the closure, Palestinians were barred from performing daily prayers, including five consecutive Friday prayers on 6, 13, 20 and 27 March and on 3 April. Worship resumed on the sixth Friday, April 10.

Israeli authorities had closed both sites since February 28, citing security measures during the US-Israel war against Iran. They also prevented Eid al-Fitr prayers from being held at Al-Aqsa this year for the first time since Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967.

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Source: prizrenpost