Amman, June 19 (Petra)-- Tens of thousands of worshipers performed Friday prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif compound despite heightened Israeli occupation security measures in and around the occupied city of Jerusalem.

The Islamic Awqaf Department in Jerusalem reported that approximately 60,000 worshipers performed Friday prayer at the holy site, according to Palestinian media reports.

Palestinian media said that tens of thousands of worshipers began arriving at Al-Aqsa Mosque from the early morning hours, while Israeli forces imposed strict security measures around the compound.

Large numbers of Israeli police and security personnel were deployed at the mosque’s gates and throughout Jerusalem’s Old City.

The reports added that Israeli forces installed dozens of metal barricades across various parts of the city, including inside the Old City and around the Al-Aqsa compound. Security personnel also stopped and checked the identification documents of numerous young Palestinians seeking access to the area.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, remains a focal point of religious and political tensions in Jerusalem, particularly during Friday prayer and religious occasions.

//Petra// MF