JERUSALEM, March 23, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation authorities have continued the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem to Muslim worshipers for the 24th consecutive day, citing security pretexts.

The arbitrary measure is widely seen as unprecedented, as the mosque has not witnessed a full closure during the holy month of Ramadan since 1967, nor a complete suspension of religious rituals on this scale.

During the past Ramadan, occupation forces prevented worshippers from performing Taraweeh prayers in several neighborhoods of occupied Jerusalem, deploying around Damascus Gate and Herod's Gate and forcing worshipers to leave in an attempt to disperse them and prevent any gatherings for prayer.

The closure comes amidst a heavy deployment of forces around the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, where occupation forces are imposing strict restrictions on movement, closing multiple gates, and preventing gatherings.

These measures have also affected Waqf (Islamic endowment) staff with a reduction in the number of those allowed to enter, impacting the daily administration of the site.

This closure comes in a broader escalating restrictions, coinciding with a complete lockdown of the West Bank and rising regional tensions.

Y.S