Tens of thousands of Muslims gathered on the first Friday of Ramadan for noon prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Friday. 

Muslims gather in mosques across the world as the Islamic holy month begins.Israel announced on Monday that it would allow Palestinian men over 55, women of all ages and children under 12 to travel from the occupied West Bank to enter Jerusalem without military-issued permits.

The Muslim Waqf, custodians who manage the site which houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque, said close to 100,000 people had visited for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan with the security bans lifted.

Ramadan began on Thursday, and its observance is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Followers of Islam around the world have begun daily fasting during daylight hours, prayers, and reflection to mark the ninth month of the Islamic calendar in which they believe God revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.

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