Occupied Jerusalem, June 16 (QNA) - Forty thousands worshipers performed Eid Al-Adha prayers Sunday at Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite restrictions and harassment by Israeli forces.
According to Palestin's WAFA news agency, Israeli forces assaulted worshippers both on their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque and as they were leaving, preventing dozens from entering to perform the Eid prayers.
The Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, the Jordan-run authority in charge of the holy site, announced that some 40,000 worshippers managed to attend the prayers, despite the Israeli closures and the prevention of thousands from entering.
In the early hours of the morning, the occupation forces stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, checked the IDs of those inside, disrupted the movement of worshippers, and barred a significant number of young men from entering, forcing them to pray outside the mosque gates.
Meanwhile, Some eight thousand worshipers performed Eid prayers today in the Ibrahimi Mosque, despite the restrictions and obstacles imposed by the occupation on the mosque and its surroundings.
The Director of the Hebron Endowments said that thousands arrived at the Ibrahimi Mosque and its outer courtyards to perform Eid prayers, despite the restrictions imposed by the occupation authorities.
He explained that the occupation forces increased their presence around the mosque, at its main gates, and at the checkpoints spread around it, and checked citizens' IDs, and patted down a number of them.
Since 1994, the Israeli occupation has imposed a division on the Ibrahimi Mosque, with 63 percent for Jews and 37 percent for Muslims, after a settler committed a massacre by opening fire on worshipers during Ramadan of that year, killing 29 Palestinians, and injuring over a hundred others.
The occupation opens the Mosque completely to Muslims only 10 days a year, which are Fridays in the month of Ramadan, the night of the 27th of it, the Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha prayers, the anniversary of the Night of Isra and Mi'raj, the birth of the Prophet, and the Islamic New Year.
The Ibrahimi Mosque is located in the old city of Hebron, which is under the full control of the Israeli occupation. Inside the Mosque, there are the mausoleums of the prophets Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Yaqoub. (QNA)