Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, maintaining a powerful weekly tradition despite heavy Israeli restrictions surrounding the holy site and the Old City of Jerusalem.

Islamic endowment officials said around 60,000 worshippers attended prayers at the compound, with crowds arriving from the early hours of the morning. Israeli forces were heavily deployed across entrances leading to the mosque, tightening security measures and limiting movement throughout occupied East Jerusalem.

For many Palestinians, access to Al-Aqsa has become increasingly difficult amid the ongoing genocidal war and years of tightening restrictions. Large numbers of worshippers from the occupied West Bank and Gaza have continued to face severe limitations preventing them from reaching the mosque, particularly since broader closures and movement bans intensified over the past three years.

Despite the obstacles, worshippers continued to stream into the compound, filling its courtyards in scenes reflecting both religious devotion and determination to preserve Palestinian presence at one of Islam’s holiest sites.