Around 40,000 Palestinians offered Eid al-Adha prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, amid mourning for the victims of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which has continued for over eight months.
The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem reported the attendance, despite strict closures preventing thousands from entering.
The Palestinian news agency WAFA stated that Israeli forces attacked worshippers on their way to and from the mosque, preventing many from entering.
In Hebron, despite security restrictions imposed by the Israeli army, thousands of Palestinians performed Eid al-Adha prayers at the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Ghassan Al-Rajabi of the Hebron Endowments Department claimed these measures aimed to restrict Palestinian access to holy sites.
This year’s Eid al-Adha holiday is marked by the ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza following a Hamas attack on October 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.
Local health authorities report nearly 37,300 Palestinians killed and 85,200 injured in Gaza since the offensive began, with the region suffering under a severe blockade.
Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which recently ordered Tel Aviv to halt operations in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge.
