JERUSALEM, March 18, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation authorities continue to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem, preventing worshippers from accessing it for the 20th consecutive day, under the pretext of security concerns related to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
With the continued closure of Al-Aqsa, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be prevented from performing Eid al-Fitr prayers there tomorrow, in what has been described as an unprecedented move.
This arbitrary and unjustified measure sets a dangerous precedent, as Al-Aqsa Mosque has not witnessed such a complete closure during Ramadan since 1967, nor such a total denial of religious services.
Occupation forces also prevented worshippers from performing Taraweeh prayers in several neighborhoods of occupied Jerusalem, deploying around Damascus Gate and Herod's Gate, preventing worshippers from performing the prayers and forcing them to leave the area in an attempt to disperse them and prevent any gatherings for prayer.
This comes amid a heavy deployment of forces around the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, where occupation forces are imposing strict movement restrictions, closing several gates, and preventing gatherings. These measures have also affected Waqf (Islamic endowment) employees themselves, with a reduction in the number of those permitted entry, impacting the daily management of the mosque.
Despite the closure, Jerusalemites continue to flock to the vicinity of Al-Aqsa and its gates, performing prayers in the streets and on the steps for consecutive nights. This reflects popular rejection of the imposed restrictions, especially as they have been extended to nearby areas, such as the Rashidiya School courtyard.
The measures have also spread to various neighborhoods in Jerusalem, where congregational prayers, including Taraweeh prayers during the last ten days of Ramadan, have been prohibited. A significant military presence is also observed around the gates of the Old City, and any religious gatherings are banned.
This closure comes within a broader context of escalating restrictions, coinciding with a comprehensive closure of the West Bank, rising regional tensions, and warnings about growing calls by settler groups to impose changes on the status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
K.T
