Some 150,000 worshipers on Saturday flocked toward al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for Muslims, from all over the city of al-Quds, the occupied lands and the West Bank to attend the prayers of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, the official Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
Since the early morning hours, Israeli police set up dozens of roadblocks and conducted extensive searches and checks on Palestinians, asking for their ID cards in the vicinity of al-Quds and its alleys and preventing many of from entering the holy site.
Activists distributed gifts among children who came to al-Aqsa Mosque with their families and gave out sweets to everyone.
Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah on the lunar calendar every year.
It commemorates Prophet Abraham’s acknowledging a divine order upon him to sacrifice his son. Upon submitting to God’s will, Ibrahim was exempted from performing the order and was offered a ram to sacrifice instead.
Muslims in many countries around the world also on Saturday celebrated Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Muslims in Afghanistan, Jordan, Egypt, Oman, Kazakhstan and Turkey attended celebrations to mark the event.