Thousands of Muslims hold last Ramadan Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa, but some disappointed at crossing скачать в хорошем качестве

Thousands of Muslims hold last Ramadan Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa, but some disappointed at crossing

(28 Mar 2025) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4564998 RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Jerusalem – 28 March 2025 1. Various of Muslims worshipers praying in the courtyard outside the Dome of the Rock at the compound of al-Aqsa Mosque 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abu Mounir Samreen, from the West Bank: ++ SOUNDBITE COVERS SHOTS 3++ “After two years of not being able to be in this holy place, beloved to the hearts of all Muslims, God allows us to come to this pure place, to pray, to read the Quran and to get to know each other. We experienced difficulties on the way here including, checkpoints, inspection, precise inspection and walking long distances.” 3. Various of worshippers inside al-Aqsa Mosque ASSOCIATED PRESS Qalandiya checkpoint, West Bank - 28 March 2025 4. Wide of Qalandiya checkpoint 5. Volunteers help an elderly man walk 6. Wide of worshippers gathered at Qalandiya checkpoint as they head towards Jerusalem on the last Friday of Ramadan 7. Israeli soldiers 8. Fatima Saeed holding her American passport and going back from the checkpoint 9. Close up of Fatima Saeed's American passport 10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fatima Saeed, Deir Dibwan resident: ++SOUNDBITE PARTLY OVER SHOTS 8 AND 9++ "They refused to let me cross and asked me to go out. I told them I had an American passport, they asked me to go back." ASSOCIATED PRESS Jerusalem – 28 March 2025 11. Various of Muslims worshipers praying in the courtyard outside the Dome of the Rock at the compound of al-Aqsa Mosque STORYLINE: Some 75,000 Muslim worshippers gathered for the last Friday prayers of Ramadan at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, according to the Islamic Trust, which oversees the site. The prayers took place amid tensions after Israel returned to war and resumed its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, and military escalation with Lebanon. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Israeli government blocked Palestinians in the West Bank from crossing to Jerusalem or visiting Israel. During previous Fridays in Ramadan, Israel only allowed men over 55 and women over 50 to enter from the occupied territory for the prayers. Muhammed Jahjouh, who was visiting from the West Bank city of Hebron said only 5 per cent of people were able to cross into Jerusalem. "If the West Bank were open, the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque would not be enough for people to pray. People would pray in the streets,” he said. Those who were turned back at the checkpoint spoke of their frustration. Fatima Saeed from Deir Dibwan town near Ramallah was surprised to be not allowed to cross to Jerusalem despite holding an American passport. "They (the Israeli security) refused to let me cross and asked me to go out. I told them I had an American passport, they asked me to go back," Saeed said. The Old City is located in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed to its capital in a move not recognized internationally. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...