Thousands to pray at al-Aqsa for Laylat al-Qadr

Thousands of Palestinian worshipers are expected to visit Al-Aqsa mosque on Sunday to commemorate Laylat al-Qadr, a local group said. The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage said that it would distribute 25,000 meals inside the compound for the Iftar and Suhoor meals. The Al-Bayariq foundation, based in Israel, will dispatch 200 buses to carry worshipers to the mosque compound from Palestinian cities and villages in Israel. Tens of thousands of worshipers will spend the night in the Al-Aqsa compound and leave at daybreak, with all passages leading to the mosque overcrowded since the early morning. Israeli forces have erected dozens of checkpoints around Jerusalem and deployed extra troops within the Old City. Laylat al-Qadr is one of the holiest nights in Ramadan, and marks the anniversary of the night when Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad.