An-Najah News - For the first time in years, the weekly Friday prayer was held at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem with the absence of any worshipers, as per the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf's decision on March 23 banning prayers at the holy site in attempt to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The buildings and the courtyards of the compound were seen empty of any worshipers for the first time, with the exception of around 50 personnel of the Islamic Waqf who performed the prayer while leaving significant spaces between each other as a preventive measure against infection.

Sheikh Yousef Abu Sneineh, who delivered the Friday sermon at the holy site, called on the Muslim believers to stay at their homes at this critical time to prevent the spread of the novel disease.

Earlier this week, the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Council announced an unprecedented decision to temporarily ban Muslim worshippers access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest house of worship.

The decision taken by the Jordan-run Waqf Council was a bitter one, according to a statement issued by the council, which is in charge of the holy sites in Jerusalem.

Over 3000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Israel, which occupies East Jerusalem where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, so far.