JAKARTA - Around 140,000 Muslim pilgrims gathered on Wednesday in the courtyard and prayer hall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, celebrating Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah with one of the largest numbers of pilgrims in the place in recent years, according to the Islamic Waqf Department.
Wakaf, which manages the complex, estimates that the number of pilgrims reached 140,000 people when the crowd filled the vast courtyard of the holy place on the hilltop since morning for Eid prayers, quoted from Daily Sabah (27/5).
The worshippers prayed across the courtyard of the mosque, which is located in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City, an area that remains under tight Israeli security control and is often subject to political tensions.
Israel deployed police throughout the Old City, including narrow alleys, checkpoints, and main gates leading to the mosque complex.
The presence of Israeli security forces is usually increased during major religious holidays, especially during periods of regional unrest.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered in Islam as the third holiest site, believed to be the location of the Isra Mi'raj of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and. In Judaism, the mosque is also known as the Temple Mount, which adds to its central role in one of the most sensitive territorial and religious disputes in the region.
Access to the complex is controlled by Israeli authorities, while the day-to-day administration of the site is handled by the Jordanian-run Islamic Waqf. This arrangement has long been a point of friction during periods of increased violence or political tension.
Since the escalation of the conflict in October 2023, violence in the West Bank has increased, with Palestinian officials and humanitarian agencies reporting more than 1,000 Palestinians killed, more than 12,000 injured, and tens of thousands displaced.
The most affected areas include rural communities and Bedouin areas near Israeli settlements and outposts, where clashes and settler violence have been repeatedly reported.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
