First Friday Prayers Hold at Al-Aqsa Mosque in 6 Weeks

Following a six-week closure, approximately 100,000 Muslims gathered for Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. Worshippers successfully navigated Israeli security checkpoints to access the revered site located in the historic Old City. Israeli authorities had initially shuttered the compound on February 28, citing security concerns related to regional hostilities involving Iran and the United States. The long-awaited reopening of the mosque follows a newly established temporary ceasefire between Iranian and US forces, finally allowing large-scale worship to safely resume in the region.