JERUSALAM, FEB 28: Israel announced on Thursday that it will impose “safety restrictions” at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City during the holy month of Ramadan, set to begin this weekend.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian worshippers visit Al-Aqsa, Islam’s third holiest site, during Ramadan. The mosque, located in East Jerusalem, remains a focal point of tensions, particularly amid the fragile ceasefire in Gaza following a devastating war.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer stated that the same public safety restrictions as in previous years would be enforced. However, specific details on this year’s police deployment were not disclosed.
In 2023, amid the Gaza war, Israeli authorities had restricted access to Al-Aqsa for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, allowing only men over 55 and women above 50 to enter. Thousands of Israeli police officers were also stationed across the Old City.
Mencer emphasized that Israel would not tolerate any attempts to incite violence at the site.
Al-Aqsa Mosque holds deep political and religious significance for Palestinians. While a longstanding agreement permits Jewish visitors to enter but not pray, an increasing number of Jewish ultranationalists have challenged this rule in recent years. Among them was far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who publicly prayed at the compound in 2023 and 2024 while serving as national security minister.
Although Israel has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to maintaining the status quo at Al-Aqsa, Palestinian concerns over its future have made the site a recurring flashpoint for violence.
Last year, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel allowed Muslim worshippers to enter the mosque in similar numbers to previous years.
