JERUSALEM, April 3, 2026 (WAFA) – For the fifth week in a row, Israeli occupation forces have kept Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem closed, preventing thousands of Palestinians from performing Friday prayers under the pretext of emergency and security concerns amid the ongoing war with Iran.
On Friday, occupation authorities imposed strict military measures around the Old City, closed its entrances, deployed checkpoints, and completely barred access to the mosque, while heavily deploying soldiers in the area.
Eyewitnesses reported that Palestinians were unable to enter the Old City or approach Al-Aqsa, forcing them to pray in nearby streets and neighborhoods amid ongoing restrictions.
The continued closure forms part of a broader policy of tightening control over Jerusalem and its holy sites, aimed at imposing a new reality in Al-Aqsa and asserting full control over the mosque.
Official and religious authorities warned of the serious implications of this ongoing closure, describing it as a blatant violation of freedom of worship and a dangerous escalation that requires urgent international intervention.
Meanwhile, Israeli groups advocating for the so-called “Temple” continue to incite raids into Al-Aqsa during the upcoming Passover, calling for the mosque to be opened for sacrifices between April 2 and April 9.
M.N
