Contrary to fears, the first Ramadan Friday prayers in Jerusalem are peaceful: at least eight dead after refugee boat sinks in Turkey

Contrary to fears, the first Friday prayer in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan took place peacefully in Jerusalem.

According to Muslim Wakf Authority estimates, approximately 80,000 worshipers participated in prayers on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. According to eyewitness accounts, the event ended without any major incidents.

The Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. But it is also sacred to Jews because there used to be two Jewish temples there.

Israel’s Cogat Authority had published restrictions on the participation of West Bank worshipers after the start of Ramadan. Accordingly, only men over 55, women over 50 and boys under 10 years old with a valid travel permit are allowed to participate in the prayers.

Palestinian media, citing eyewitnesses, reported that some arrests had been made at Israeli military barriers in the West Bank. Some worshipers without travel permits said they prayed at the military barricades.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Agency complained that it had been denied police access to the Jerusalem facility this year.

After hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza war during Ramadan and the release of more hostages in Hamas’s clutches were dashed, concerns arose about a further escalation of violence in the West Bank and in the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem. Hamas called for resistance against Israel during Ramadan.

Israel’s foreign secret service Mossad had spread the assessment that Hamas was trying to “set the region on fire” during the fasting month. (saw/sda/dpa)