Mass rallies in Gaza

Participants at the "From Haifa to Aqsa Walk" arrived at the Aqsa Mosque on Thursday.

The walk started five days ago from the occupied city of Haifa.

A large number of worshipers at the mosque and residents of the Old City had received the participants with cheers.

The participants performed a Sajdat al-Shukr (prostration of gratitude) upon their arrival at the mosque, media coordinator at the Al Quds and Al Aqsa affairs center (Q-Press) Mahmoud Abul Atta told Safa Press Agency.

Israeli forces had earlier Thursday tried to hamper the marchers after they left Shuafat refugee camp, East Jerusalem, and forced them to take the bus at gunpoint, Abul Atta said.

The marchers took the bus for one kilometer before departing it and continuing the journey on foot, he added.

They had walked 180 kilometers on foot in 50 hours or six days until they reached Al Aqsa Mosque, he said.