Palestinians head to Al Aqsa on International Quds Day

Thousands of Palestinians flocked to Jerusalem on the last Friday of Ramadan, which marks "International Quds Day". International Quds Despite tightened Israeli restrictions, the Palestinians traveled from all over the occupied territories for a chance to visit Islam's third holiest site, the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel had increased its military presence throughout Jerusalem as well at the Qalandiya military checkpoint, however; that did not stop the Palestinians from making the journey to the holy city. When asked about their journey, the Palestinians at the Qalandiya military checkpoint often said things like "they can't stop us", or "we will always find ways to journey to the Al Aqsa". Yet despite the large number of Palestinians crossing the various checkpoints to get to Jerusalem, many Israeli measures were taken against the Palestinians. Among those measures was the rejection of 250,000 permits to visit the Al Aqsa Mosque, arbitrary searches and mass detentions. Some had called these measures a form of collective punishment against the worshippers. During the holy month of Ramadan, Israel often gives many Palestinians permits to visit the city. As such the Palestinians take it upon themselves to converge at Al Aqsa Mosque in order to maintain their connection to the city, and to pray at the third holiest site in Islam; the Al Aqsa Mosque.