DayofPal—For the 35th consecutive day, Al-Aqsa Mosque remained closed to Muslim worshippers on a Friday, as an unusual stillness settled over one of Islam’s holiest sites.
The dawn call to prayer echoed across largely empty courtyards, underscoring what observers describe as an unprecedented period of isolation imposed on the mosque.
According to local sources, the continued closure by Israeli forces marks a rare and significant departure from longstanding practices, transforming the mosque’s normally vibrant spaces into silent, vacant grounds.
The restrictions coincide with heightened Israeli restrictions in Jerusalem, where access for Palestinians has been increasingly curtailed through tightened security measures.
Witnesses described the call to prayer as resembling a “distress signal” amid escalating concerns over the site’s status.
At the same time, Jewish extremist groups have intensified calls for incursions into the courtyard and the performance of Talmudic rituals, including sacrificial rites, raising fears of further confrontation.
In a related development, Israeli authorities are reportedly preparing to open the nearby Western Wall area on April 5 to dozens of rabbis for the traditional priestly blessing ceremony, a move seen by some analysts as part of broader efforts to expand Jewish religious activities around the mosque compound.
Experts on Jerusalem affairs warn that the current phase is particularly sensitive. They note that a closure of this scale has not occurred in modern history, cautioning that religious groups may seek to exploit the overlap of religious holidays to advance long-term ideological goals tied to the site.
Meanwhile, calls for mass mobilization are growing among Palestinians. Hamas has urged supporters to turn the coming days into widespread protests under the banner
“Friday of Al-Aqsa and the Prisoners.” Parallel to this, an international campaign titled “Al-Aqsa Is Calling for Help” has been launched by Arab and Islamic organizations to galvanize global attention and pressure for an end to ongoing measures.
Local activists have warned that the ongoing closure risks igniting a broader escalation, describing the situation as “playing with fire.”
They argue that the policies being enforced on the ground aim to establish irreversible realities, urging increased Palestinian presence in the mosque’s vicinity to reaffirm its religious and cultural identity.
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