The Israeli Authorities since the inception of Ramadhan have allowed only Palestinian married men aged 50 and above and women aged 45 and above to enter Jerusalem. However on the last Friday of the holy and blessed month of Ramadhan, some 3,00,000 people managed to reach Al Aqsa to offer prayers. Thousands of Palestinians were prevented from entering Jerusalem, which resulted in the clashes between the Palestinians and the Israeli army.
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohammed Hussein said the Israeli suppressive measures prevented thousands of Palestinian worshippers from the West Bank from reaching Al Aqsa. “The Israelis are saying that they lifted restrictions in Ramadhan but tens of thousands were barred from reaching Al Aqsa for the prayer,” said Hussein
However on Friday, millions of people around the world attended the Quds Day demonstrations to support the Palestinian struggle and censured the Israeli occupation. The Quds Day is the last Friday of the Ramadhan and was named by the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the late Imam Khomeini in 1979, a day representing global solidarity with Palestine.