70,000 worshippers fill Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem Friday

Jerusalem, Palestine – Approximately 70,000 worshippers performed Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in a magnificent display of faith reflecting the Palestinians’ attachment to the mosque, the first Qibla and the third holiest site in Islam, despite the restrictions and tightened security measures at the entrances to the Old City.

Worshippers began arriving in the early morning hours, filling the courtyards of Al-Aqsa with prayers for Jerusalem and its people, emphasizing that praying at Al-Aqsa is a message of steadfastness, not merely the performance of a religious ritual.

The prayers took place amidst an atmosphere of tension and siege, but the massive turnout sent a clear message that Al-Aqsa will remain vibrant with its people, and that attempts to restrict its presence will not succeed in breaking the will of those steadfastly defending it or erasing its identity.