JERUSALEM, March 16, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces on Monday night assaulted Palestinian worshipers while performing Isha and Tarawih prayers in the vicinity of Bab al-Sahira in the heart of occupied Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.

It reported that occupation soldiers fired stun grenades at the worshipers and detained several young men during the unprovoked assault.

Meanwhile, the occupation authorities threatened to shut down the An-Nasr Restaurant in the Khan al-Zait market in the Old City. The owner was prohibited from preparing and distributing hot meals to residents and passersby in the Bab al-Amud area, charitable meals typically provided by donors during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Israeli occupation continues to seal off the Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevent worshipers from accessing it for the 17th consecutive day, citing security concerns related to the ongoing regional conflict.

For the first time since 1967, the occupation has prevented worshipers from performing prayers and I’tikaf inside the mosque throughout the final days of Ramadan, including the observance of Laylat al-Qadr and the last Friday prayers of the holy month.

The Jerusalem Governorate warned of an upsurge of incitement by extremist "Temple Mount" groups against the mosque, emphasizing that these measures are not "temporary security procedures," but rather part of a political and ideological agenda aimed at altering the long-standing religious, historical, and legal status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

A.D./ K.F.