Amman, Mar. 13 (Petra)-- Hundreds of Palestinians in Jerusalem performed the fourth and final Friday prayers of Ramadan near the Al-Aqsa Mosque after Israeli occupation authorities kept the site fully closed for the 14th consecutive day, citing "wartime emergency measures and Israeli Home Front Command instructions." According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), quoting the Jerusalem Governorate, hundreds of residents performed Friday prayers at the closest accessible points to the compound.

Worshipers gathered at Bab Al-Sahira, in the Bab Al-Amud area, and at Mohammed Al-Fateh Mosque in Silwan.

The prayers were held amid a heavy deployment of Israeli occupation forces, who have prevented access to Al-Aqsa and placed metal barriers to block roads leading to the compound.

This marks the second consecutive Friday during which Muslims have been barred from performing Friday prayers and all other daily prayers at Al-Aqsa. It is also the first time since 1967 that Ramadan night prayer (Qiyam al-Layl) have not been held in the mosque’s courtyards.

//Petra// MF