JERUSALEM, Friday, May 17, 2019 (WAFA) – Tens of thousands of Palestinian Muslim worshipers from East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Arab towns across Israel attended the prayers of the second Friday of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in Jerusalem.

WAFA correspondent said that the worshipers made their way to the mosque compound, passing into East Jerusalem via Qalandia military checkpoint as Israeli police were placed on high alert in and around the city.

Men over 40, children under 13 and women of all ages are allowed to enter East Jerusalem without permits for the occasion on Fridays. Men under 40, however, are banned entry into the city.

Israeli authorities beefed up police deployments in different parts of the Old City of Jerusalem as well as at all the alleys leading to the mosque compound.

Ramadan fasting month started on Monday May 6 and at least one billion Muslims across the globe began fasting with fasting hours ranging between nine and 19 hours.

For many Palestinians in Jerusalem and across the occupied Palestinian territory, Ramadan is directly connected to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque.

Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.

K.F.