Eid Prayers Fill Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem Amid Tensions
Thousands of Muslim worshippers gathered at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday to mark Eid al-Adha, filling the courtyards with early morning prayers on the first day of the four-day Islamic festival.
The sacred site witnessed large congregations as worshippers performed the special Eid prayers, continuing one of the most significant religious observances in the Muslim calendar.
Eid al-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and is traditionally marked by the slaughter of animals, with meat distributed among family members, neighbours, and those in need.
This year’s celebrations come against a backdrop of ongoing regional tensions, with reports of continued violations of a ceasefire agreement in place since October 2025 contributing to an already fragile security situation.
In the days leading up to the festival, Israeli forces reportedly carried out raids in several Palestinian towns in the southern occupied West Bank.
According to local accounts and Palestinian media reports, the operations disrupted commercial activity during peak shopping hours, forced shop closures, and triggered confrontations with residents.
The timing of the raids, coinciding with Eid preparations, added to the strain on communities already navigating economic hardship and heightened insecurity.
Despite the tensions, worshippers still gathered in large numbers at Al-Aqsa Mosque to observe the Eid prayers, maintaining long-standing religious traditions at the contested site.
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