OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Israeli occupation authorities have intensified their policy of banning Palestinians from Al-Aqsa Mosque, issuing a six-month ban against Jerusalem activist Nafisa Khweis as part of a broader crackdown targeting worshippers and activists.
Local sources said the decision is part of a growing wave of expulsion orders, with around 400 bans issued in February alone against Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem’s Old City.
The measures also include travel bans and restrictions targeting activists, journalists, and former detainees.
Analysts say the policy aims to limit Palestinian presence at the holy site and reshape control over it.
Jerusalem affairs expert Abdullah Marouf warned that the ongoing closure of Al-Aqsa, particularly during Ramadan, is a deliberate “test phase” by Israeli forces to assess their ability to impose new realities on the ground.
He said the measures are not directly tied to current regional tensions but are being implemented under that pretext to justify changes to the Mosque’s administrative and religious status.
Marouf added that Israel is seeking to establish itself as the sole authority over Al-Aqsa, sidelining the role of the Islamic Waqf and reducing Palestinian influence in Jerusalem.
Despite the restrictions, Palestinians continue to gather near the Mosque’s gates to pray, signaling ongoing resistance to the measures.
