JERUSALEM, January 14, 2026 (WAFA) – The Jerusalem Governorate condemned the Israeli occupation's measures, represented by the recommendations of the so-called "Israeli Parliamentary National Security Committee," to restrict access for worshippers from the West Bank to Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming month of Ramadan. The Governorate stated that these measures constitute a blatant violation of freedom of worship and an arbitrary preemptive action.
In a statement, the Governorate explained that the recommendations include quantitative and categorical restrictions on entry, as well as arrests and harassment of Palestinians.
These actions are part of preemptive plans aimed at imposing further control and restrictions on Jerusalem and limiting the fundamental religious rights of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Governorate emphasized that the worst outcome would be if these restrictions were to become a reality on the ground.
It noted that these measures come in the context of escalating colonists' incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and unprecedented violations, supported by the occupation authorities. These restrictions have intensified since October 2023, including the imposition of complex and special permits and age limits, effectively preventing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque except in very limited numbers.
The governorate noted that citizens from the West Bank and Gaza Strip have viewed Ramadan for decades as a golden opportunity to enter Jerusalem, given that the occupation prevents most of them from accessing it throughout the year.
During Ramadan in 2024 and 2025, the occupation imposed unprecedented restrictions, limiting the number of those entering Jerusalem to ten thousand worshippers per week and only on Fridays.
This was accompanied by the requirement of a permit and a difficult-to-obtain magnetic card, a requirement to leave before evening, and age limits for men, women, and children. This led to the partial emptying of Al-Aqsa Mosque and a significant decrease in the number of worshippers attending Friday prayers, from 250,000 before October 2023 to 80,000 on the second Friday of Ramadan 2025.
Furthermore, for the first time since 2014, the occupation prevented the practice of i'tikaf (night prayer) in Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday and Saturday nights, forcibly expelling the few who attempted to remain. This contributed to the success of the occupation's unprecedented policy of controlling the mosque and imposing its restrictions.
K.T
