As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches, Israel is considering imposing new restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding areas in occupied Jerusalem.
According to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, Israel’s occupation Ministry of Defense has held multiple discussions with the intelligence agency Shin Bet, the police, the prison authority, and the military to outline security measures for the area.
Severe Entry Restrictions
The proposed measures would severely limit access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, allowing only a few thousand worshipers inside—far fewer than usual during Ramadan, when the mosque is typically overcrowded.
Additionally, entry would be restricted based on age:
- Men over 55
- Women over 50
- Children under 12
Meanwhile, communal Friday prayers would be capped at 10,000 attendees, who would need to submit requests in advance for permission to enter.
Channel 12 reported that these restrictions, along with other security plans, will soon be submitted for final approval.
History of Violence
Israeli forces have regularly attacked Muslim worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, which also holds religious significance for Jews and Christians.
- May 2021: Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa during Ramadan, attacking worshipers and wounding hundreds. This escalated into an 11-day war on Gaza that killed over 250 Palestinians.
- April 2022: Israeli forces raided the mosque again, forcefully clearing out Muslim worshipers to allow Israeli settlers to enter for Passover prayers.
- Ramadan 2023: Before Israel’s current war on Gaza, Israeli forces escalated assaults and mass arrests at the mosque, drawing global condemnation.
During the 2023 raid, Israeli officers smashed doors and windows, destroyed the mosque’s sound system, set fire to carpets, and attacked the first-aid room, according to the Islamic Waqf—the Jordanian-Palestinian body that oversees the mosque.
Hundreds of worshipers were wounded by rubber-coated bullets, stun grenades, beatings, and tear gas, while at least 400 Palestinians were arrested.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has drastically restricted Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa, barring most worshipers from entry.
Last year, during Eid al-Adha, Israeli forces stormed the mosque’s courtyard, preventing hundreds of young men from reaching the site and beating those who attempted to enter.
For Palestinians, protecting Al-Aqsa is seen as a national duty, while Israel’s increasing presence is widely viewed as an attempt to assert sovereignty over the mosque and further its control over occupied Jerusalem.
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