Despite weeks of Israeli aggression and security measures around the compound, 120,000 Palestinian worshippers descended upon Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem to attend Eid Al-Fitr prayers. This celebration immediately follows the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
During Ramadan, Israeli forces and settlers stormed the mosque compound multiple times, leading to injuries and arrests of hundreds of worshippers. These brutal stormings resulted in retaliatory rocket fire from Palestinian militants in the besieged Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, leading to Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
Despite the violence, Palestinian worshippers continued to flock to Friday prayers in droves, with as many as 250,000 attending each week. This show of resilience and determination is not new, as Israel often escalates its aggression towards Palestinians during Ramadan.
In addition to the attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Israel also used brutal force against Palestinian Christians and foreign pilgrims during the Holy Light ceremony for Orthodox Easter last week. However, the unwavering dedication of Palestinian worshippers to attend prayers despite the violence is a testament to their unwavering faith and determination.
