Israel Restricts Access to Al-Aqsa Mosque on First Friday of Ramadan, Only Children and Elderly Allowed
Ramallah: On the first Friday of Ramadan, Israeli authorities severely limited Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem.
According to Arab media reports, hundreds of Palestinians were seen queuing at the Qalandiya checkpoint near Ramallah, waiting for permission to enter Jerusalem. Israeli officials stated that only 10,000 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, holding special permits, would be allowed to enter the mosque today—a significantly lower number compared to previous years.
The authorities specified that only children under 12, men over 55, and women aged 50 or above are permitted to enter.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that by morning, only around 2,000 Palestinians managed to pass through the Qalandiya checkpoint toward Jerusalem, while Israeli forces remained on high alert at checkpoints separating the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The restrictions come amid heightened tensions in the region, with Palestinians expressing frustration over limited access to one of Islam’s holiest sites during the holy month of Ramadan.
