The first-ever Jerusalem Marathon was held on Friday morning as planned, despite violence escalation in the region this week.

Over 10,000 participants from 40 countries and regions ran over the course through the holy city from the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and ending at Sacher Park.

Jerusalem has hosted half-marathon for twenty years. Its mayor Nir Barkat, who is also a veteran marathon runner, saw advantages to hold the long-distance race in Jerusalem when he took part in the New York Marathon last year.

"The marathon is an important economic driving force for the city and will bring many runners and spectators here," Barkat was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Post.

The Jerusalem Municipality announced hotels are booked to capacity with 4,000 runners and journalists in town for the event.

In the wake of a bombing attack in Jerusalem on Wednesday and the escalation along its southern border, Barkat vowed "Jerusalem doesn't stop and won't stop."

Wednesday's bombing that claimed a British woman's life and over 30 more injured came amid a sharp escalation along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, with repeated rocket and mortar fire into Israeli cities and communities adjacent to the coastal enclave, and retaliatory strikes by Israeli army.

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