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This previous Ramadan weekend was tense and somber for Palestinian Muslims as Israel's conflict on Gaza approaches six months.
Officers mentioned Friday that about 120,000 individuals descended on the Al-Aqsa Mosque complicated, which dominates Jerusalem's Outdated Metropolis.
Minor clashes broke out between worshipers and Israeli police controlling the doorway to the mosque, which is Islam's third holiest web site.
Adli al-Agha, 53, of Jerusalem, advised AFP information company that many individuals “needed to flee daybreak prayers” after Israeli police deployed a mini drone that sprayed tear fuel to disperse worshipers. “.
Laylat al-Qadr (“Night time of Energy”) is well known on Friday, thought of the holiest evening of Ramadan, which commemorates the second when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
It’s the evening when Muslims consider their prayers are most probably to be answered, a festive second when kids keep up late and outlets keep open late into the evening.
However many Palestinians are in no temper to have a good time and are praying for an finish to the conflict in Gaza after practically six months of bloodshed.
Samiha al-Qadi, 55, who got here from close to Bethlehem, mentioned Jerusalem was “unhappy and has misplaced its mild – all of us really feel what is occurring in Gaza. We can not escape this even for a minute.”
There have been few Ramadan decorations or lights within the holy metropolis this 12 months, with Palestinians as a substitute holding a bitter espresso and a date on Tuesday and Wednesday – historically meant for mourning – when feasts are often held.
“There’s nothing candy within the feast this 12 months. Individuals are not celebrating,” mentioned Saba, 54, a few of whose relations have been killed in Gaza. “Every thing is bitter in my mouth. “It is extremely painful right now, which is what the household is about.”
In Rafah, within the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinians gathered on Laylat al-Qadr, praying inside and out of doors tents erected close to the particles of the al-Farooq mosque – now in ruins because of Israeli air strikes.
Individuals additionally gathered to wish at what remained of the Nice Omari Mosque in Gaza Metropolis. The biggest and oldest mosque within the strip, also called the Nice Mosque of Gaza, was destroyed by Israeli army bombing. Regardless of its destruction, the mosque stays a favourite place for residents of the world to assemble for prayer.
Palestinians displaced from their houses in Gaza for nearly six months because of Israeli assaults have celebrated Ramadan in makeshift tents, with restricted assets and in tough situations. Many individuals are spending the final day studying the Quran or adorning their tents for Eid.