Dozens of thousands of Palestinians performed Friday prayers in the al-Aqsa mosque despite Israeli restrictions on entering Jerusalem City.

Thousands of Palestinians headed to al-Aqsa from Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to pray.

Women less than 30 years of age and men under 50 were prevented from entering Jerusalem.

Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, general director of Jerusalem Endowment and al-Aqsa Affairs, told Ma’an that some 250, 000 worshipers prayed in al-Aqsa on Friday.

Sheikh Muhammad Hussein said that Muslims coming to pray in al-Aqsa shows the Islamic nation that people are visiting and praying at al-Aqsa despite the difficult conditions that they live and that Muslims will not let go of the holy site.

Israeli forces deployed at a main checkpoint in northern Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank prevented hundreds of Palestinians from crossing into Jerusalem Friday morning, due to recently enforced entry restrictions based on age. MAANNEWS

(Pictures courtesy of Maan News)