Around 45,000 worshippers performed the Friday prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque today, according to the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem - According to the Palestine News Agency (Wafa).

The worshippers performed the prayer despite the strict military pressures continuously imposed by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) aimed to restrict access to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Earlier, the IOF assaulted several Palestinians near the Al-Asbat Gate, preventing them from entering the mosque during the prayer in addition to physically assaulting journalist Ahmed Jalajel while he was documenting other attacks and abuses against Palestinians - per Wafa.

The Israeli Occupation authorities prevented thousands of Palestinians from various West Bank governorates from performing the Friday prayer, by claiming they require special permits to cross military checkpoints surrounding the holy city.

*Stay informed with our carefully curated content delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and in-depth analysis. Click here to subscribe.