Head of the Islamic Supreme Council and al-Aqsa Mosque preacher, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, on Monday urged Palestinians to flock to the Mosque on Thursday to mark the new Hijri year, 1439.

Sheikh Sabri called on Muslims in Palestine to spend the day at the holy site and attend religious lectures on the journey of Prophet Mohammed from Makkah to Madina to establish the first Islamic state in history.

He pointed out that during the past Hijri year, Jerusalemites were able to achieve a historic victory, through their peaceful sit-ins, by preventing Israel from installing metal detectors and surveillance cameras at al-Aqsa entrances and forcing it to open Hitta Gate after two weeks of closure.

The year also witnessed a significant escalation in the incursions carried out by extremist Jewish groups into al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard and their attempts to perform Talmudic rituals in the site and conduct excavations below and around it with the approval of the Israeli government.

Sheikh Sabri appealed to the Arab and Muslim nations to intensify their efforts to protect al-Aqsa Mosque and the Waqf properties in Jerusalem.

He also called for confronting the international anti-Islam campaigns attacking Prophet Mohammed and working to spread his great teachings and principles based on justice, tolerance and respect for the other.