Around 140,000 Palestinians gathered at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday (27 May) to perform Eid al-Adha prayers despite heavy Israeli security measures and restrictions around the Old City.
Eid al-Adha is one of the two blessed Eids that are celebrated by Muslims worldwide. It follows the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage period, and is also known as the “Feast of Sacrifice”. Eid al-Adha is celebrated for 3 days. This year, the celebrations started on Tuesday evening (26 May) and will last until Friday (29 May).
According to the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, this was the first Eid prayer at Al-Aqsa since Israel prevented worshippers from entering the mosque during Eid al-Fitr earlier this year following the outbreak of the Israeli-US conflict with Iran.
Israeli forces were heavily deployed around the mosque compound, and several arrests were made. The new Arab reported that a young woman was assaulted and detained by Israeli police near one of the gates to the mosque. In addition, Journalist Saif al-Qawasmi and Waqf employee Firas al-Dibs were also reportedly detained.
Palestinian groups had called on residents of Jerusalem and Palestinians living inside Israel to travel to Al-Aqsa for Eid prayers to maintain a strong Palestinian presence at the site.
The situation around Al-Aqsa remains highly sensitive. Palestinians accuse Israel of increasing restrictions on Muslim worshippers while allowing repeated visits to the compound by Israeli nationalist and religious groups under police protection.
In the occupied West Bank, Eid prayers also took place under tense conditions, with Israeli raids and arrests reported in several areas.
Source: commonspace.eu with the New Arab and other agencies
