Thousands of Muslim worshippers gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Friday for the first prayers held there in 40 days, following the site's reopening by Israeli authorities. The mosque, considered Islam's third-holiest site, had been closed by the Israeli military in the wake of the outbreak of war with Iran. The resumption of worship marks a significant moment for Palestinians and Muslims worldwide who had been barred from accessing the sacred compound during the prolonged closure.

Based on: Al Jazeera English