JERUSALEM, March 26, 2025 (WAFA) – The Israeli occupation forces denied on Wednesday thousands of Palestinians access to the occupied city of Jerusalem to commemorate Laylat al-Qadr at Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to local sources.

They said that thousands of worshippers flocked to the permanently-staffed Qalandia military checkpoint and 300 checkpoint, which separate Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied West Bank. However, they were prevented from crossing into the city by the gun-toting soldiers manning the checkpoints.

The occupation forces turned back thousands of Palestinians, including women, elderly, and children, at the aforementioned checkpoints, purportedly for not having the required entry permits.

The Jerusalem Governorate reported that the occupying forces even prevented a number of elderly people from entering the city despite their possession of permits.

It added that the occupation forces have transformed the city of Jerusalem into military barracks and tightened restrictions on the entry into the holy site. They checked the IDs of young men at the entrances to the Old City and the gates of the mosque.

Laylat al-Qadr, which means ‘Night of Destiny’, marks the night when the holy book of Islam, the Quran, was first revealed to Prophet Mohammed.

A.D./ K.F.