One and a half million Palestinians turned up at Al-Aqsa to perform the third Friday prayers of Ramadan, overcoming all obstacles from Israeli forces. Al Jazeera quoted the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem as saying.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has been under attack by Israeli security forces for the past few weeks. Even after the Fajr prayers on Friday (April 22nd), 31 Palestinians were injured in an attack by Israeli forces.

The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf added that Jews were also praying in the area known as the Western Wall of Al-Aqsa Square to observe the Passover on Friday. During the nine-day Passover Festival, the number of Jews entering Al Aqsa increased. And at this time of year, there is a kind of tension throughout East Jerusalem. The holy month of Ramadan for Muslims, the important Passover festival for Jews, and the Easter Week for Christians all coincide.

“I think all Palestinians should come to Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa,” said Rana Mohammed, a Palestinian who came to Al-Aqsa for Friday prayers. Here you can actually feel your existence and your responsibility towards Jerusalem. We should let future generations know that this is our land, Al Aqsa is our religion. We can’t usually come here. So we have to wait minute by minute for this moment. The feeling of being able to come here is truly incredible.

Incidentally, only during the month of Ramadan, residents of the West Bank and besieged Gaza have the opportunity to enter the Al Aqsa compound at any time. At other times of the year this opportunity does not exist, so many Palestinians are not willing to miss such a golden opportunity. One and a half million Muslims with Palestinian and Israeli passports from far and wide came in groups to perform the Friday prayers at Al Aqsa.