DID Press: Thousands of Muslims attended the first Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque following its reopening in occupied East Jerusalem after a 40-day closure reportedly imposed by the Israeli military.
The mosque, considered the third holiest site in Islam, had been closed to worshippers for 40 days amid the escalation of war involving Iran, with entry previously fully restricted.
Following the reopening, large crowds from various regions gathered to perform Friday prayers at the site. The development comes amid continued regional tensions and restrictions.
Israeli authorities had previously stated that the closure measures were implemented for security reasons in light of recent regional developments. However, the reopening has drawn widespread attention and reactions across the Muslim world and international observers.
Al-Aqsa Mosque remains one of the most significant religious and political sites in the region, and any change in its access or status often carries broad global resonance within the Islamic world.