Thousands of Muslims prayed at Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem Thursday as Israel reopened the Islamic holy site to worshippers following a 40-day closure over the Iran war.
According to an Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent, the mosque, located in the Old City, was reopened at dawn, allowing Palestinian Muslims to enter the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound.
As the gates were opened with the morning call to prayer, large numbers of worshippers flocked to the site, with many seen breaking into tears and performing prostrations in the mosque’s courtyards.
They lined up for the dawn prayer, marking the first congregational worship at the site since its closure.
Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, had stormed the compound on April 6 while it remained closed for Muslims.
