OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Israeli occupation authorities have continued the full closure of the Aqsa Mosque for the 20th consecutive day on Thursday, preventing worshipers from entering the site, with authorities confirming the shutdown will remain in place until the end of Eid al-Fitr.
According to Jerusalem Governorate sources, the closure is being enforced under the pretext of security conditions linked to the war on Iran. It also pointed to a heavy deployment of Israeli forces around the Mosque compound and the Old City, blocking Palestinians from accessing its courtyards.
Officials from the Islamic Waqf said they were formally notified of the extension, while more than 25 Waqf employees have also been denied entry.
The Governorate warned of escalating incitement by extremist “Temple” groups amid the continued closure, as Israeli restrictions on worshipers and guards have intensified, even blocking access to nearby areas.
Despite the restrictions, Palestinians have continued to pray outside the gates of the Aqsa for the ninth consecutive night in protest of the closure.
In an unprecedented move since the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, Tarawih prayers and i’tikaf during the last ten nights of Ramadan have been completely prevented inside the Mosque.
The ongoing closure coincides with a broader Israeli lockdown imposed across the West Bank following the escalation linked to the war on Iran.
