Muslims pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque to mark Eid al-Adha in occupied East Jerusalem

Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem’s Old City: The courtyards surrounding the mosque were packed with worshipers performing Eid prayers. (Photo/Reuters)

The courtyards surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, the first day of the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday, were packed with worshipers performing Eid prayers.

Muslims on this day sacrifice animals to remember Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice, and the meat from those animals is distributed to the poor in the community.

This year's Eid al-Adha holiday, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar, comes amid continued Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement in force since October 2025.

In the run-up to Eid, the Israeli army raided Palestinian towns in the southern occupied West Bank, forcing shop owners to close their businesses and assaulting residents, according to witnesses and Palestinian state media.

The raids came during peak shopping hours, as town centres were crowded with residents preparing for the Eid al-Adha holiday, following the Palestinian government's release of part of public employees’ salaries.

The main raid focused on Dura, south of Hebron, where witnesses told Anadolu agency that Israeli military vehicles entered the town centre amid heavy crowds before troops spread across streets, fired tear gas canisters and forced shop owners to shut their stores.

The assaults came as the Israeli military continued escalating attacks in the occupied West Bank, including killings, arrests and raids on cities and towns involving home searches and destruction of property since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza in October 2023.

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Source: TRT