OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Israeli occupation authorities reopened several gates of the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem after a 12-day closure following the recent military escalation with Iran.
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that the Israeli authorities lifted the state of emergency imposed nearly two weeks ago and reopened the Hitta, Silsila, and Majlis Gates for worshipers, signaling a partial easing of the restrictions on entry to the Aqsa Mosque.
The Hitta Gate is one of the key northern entrances to the Mosque, overlooking the Sa’adiyya neighborhood. The Silsila Gate lies to the west near the Magharibeh Gate and is heavily used by worshipers. The Majlis Gate is also located to the west and serves as one of the main entry points for visitors to the Mosque’s courtyards.
Previously, the Israeli authorities had imposed a total closure on the Aqsa Mosque, banning worshipers from entering except for Mosque guards and staff of the Islamic Waqf Department. They also set up military checkpoints at the entrances of the Old City, restricting access to residents only, which caused a near-complete shutdown of commercial activity in the area.
The Israeli forces continue to impose tight restrictions on worshipers, particularly on Fridays, denying thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank access to Occupied Jerusalem by requiring them to obtain special permits to pass through the military checkpoints surrounding the holy city.
