40,000 West Bank Palestinians visit Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers

Some 40,000 Palestinians travel to Jerusalem from the West Bank for Ramadan prayers, the army says, while another 6,000 Palestinians pray at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron on the first Friday of the Muslim holy month.

The IDF says Central Command head Nadav Padan, as well as other senior commanders in the West Bank, tour the Rachel and Qalandiya crossings. It says there have been no unusual events.

“IDF troops are deployed in reinforced numbers and are operating along with the Shin Bet, Civil Administration, Border Police and Israel Police in order to allow the Ramadan prayers, as well defending communities and roads and preserving order and security in the area,” the army says.