Occupied Jerusalem, July 10 (Petra)-- Around 70,000 worshipers performed Friday prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, according to the Islamic Awqaf Department in Jerusalem.

The department said in a statement that tens of thousands of worshipers began arriving at the mosque from the early morning hours, while Israeli police imposed strict security measures around the compound.

Large numbers of Israeli police forces were deployed at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and throughout Jerusalem's Old City as worshipers gathered for the weekly Friday prayer.

For the past three years, Israeli authorities have prevented Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers, according to the statement.

//Petra// MF