Even on the third Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque remained empty of worshippers. According to Palestinian sources, Israeli authorities have continued to block worshippers from entering the mosque for the seventh consecutive day, due to which the Friday prayers could not be offered.
The sounds of the Fajr call to prayer and chants of Takbir echoed throughout occupied Jerusalem in the morning, but deep silence prevailed in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli security forces deployed strict military surveillance at the entrances of the Old City and at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing thousands of Palestinians from attending the Friday Fajr prayer.
Israel says that this step has been taken for security reasons, but Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem consider it part of a systematic policy aimed at targeting the religious identity and sanctity of the mosque.
According to field reports, due to the continued closure of the mosque, not only the Friday prayers but also the Isha and Taraweeh prayers are unable to be performed. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities say that this step has been taken for the security of the mosque.
However, Palestinians reject this claim, saying it is merely an excuse to make it easier for Jewish settlers to enter and to clear the mosque of those who remain there regularly. Many Palestinians fear that Israel is trying to take advantage of the current regional situation to push forward its long-standing “Judaization” plans.
The Jerusalem Governorate has also confirmed that Israeli police informed them that Al-Aqsa Mosque would remain closed to worshippers and that Friday prayers would not be held there.
In an official statement issued on Thursday, Israeli police said that Friday prayers would not be held at the mosque due to instructions from the Home Front Command.
This closure has been imposed at a time when Israel has announced a widespread lockdown in the West Bank. The announcement came just hours after a major military assault in which U.S. and Israeli forces launched a large-scale attack on Iran.
Following these events, Palestinian organizations have reacted strongly. The Hamas movement described these restrictions as open aggression and a step that crosses all red lines. The organization said that attempts to impose a new reality by force will not weaken the resolve of those connected to Al-Aqsa, but will instead strengthen their determination.
Hamas official Majid Abu Qateesh said that these restrictions are part of a broader policy to tighten control in the West Bank. He alleged that the aim is to separate occupied Jerusalem from its surrounding areas in order to prevent public solidarity in support of Al-Aqsa. He also accused Israeli authorities of systematically spreading misinformation to conceal violations of religious freedom and basic human rights.
Amid the current situation, Palestinian national groups and institutions in Jerusalem have called on people to mobilize on a large scale. They have urged Palestinians to march toward occupied Jerusalem in order to break the siege imposed on the mosque and ensure that it is not left alone.
At the same time, Arab and Muslim countries have been urged to take immediate and concrete steps to stop actions that threaten the sanctity of Islam’s third holiest site. Palestinian organizations have also called on the international community to break its silence over the violations taking place against Al-Aqsa Mosque.