Jerusalem – Muslim worshippers were forcibly prevented from holding Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Friday, marking an unprecedented closure of the holy site during the final days of Ramadan and the Eid celebration. The closure, enacted by Israeli authorities, comes amid ongoing security concerns related to the escalating conflict with Iran.
For the first time since 1967, access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, was denied to worshippers during Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the conclude of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Hundreds of Palestinians attempted to pray outside the Traditional City gates, but were dispersed by Israeli police, according to reports. The move has been widely condemned by Palestinians as a deliberate escalation and a violation of religious freedom.
“Today is the saddest day for Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem,” Hazen Bulbul, a Jerusalem resident who has traditionally marked the end of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa, told the Guardian.
Israeli authorities cited security concerns stemming from the ongoing war with Iran, which began on February 28th, as the reason for the closure. A statement released by Israeli police indicated the decision was made in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines, which restrict gatherings nationwide to limit potential casualties in the event of further attacks. Shrapnel fragments reportedly fell within the Old City earlier this week, further fueling security anxieties.
Palestinian officials and observers, however, argue that the closure is part of a broader Israeli strategy to tighten control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, known to Muslims as Al-Haram al-Sharif, and to leverage security tensions to impose further restrictions. The site is as well revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, the location of the ancient First and Second Temples.
The decision to close the mosque has drawn criticism internationally. Turkish authorities condemned the Israeli actions, labeling them an “attack on worshippers” during the Eid holiday, according to TRT World. Images circulated by Xinhua showed Palestinian worshippers gathering outside the Old City, underscoring the impact of the closure.
Wajdi Mohammed Shweiki, a Palestinian man in his 60s, expressed his despair to AFP, stating, “Today, Al-Aqsa has been taken from us. It’s a sad and painful Ramazan.”
The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, along with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall, has been largely closed to the public since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, with limited access granted under strict security protocols. The current closure extends these restrictions, effectively barring Muslims from observing Eid al-Fitr at their most sacred site in Jerusalem.
As of Saturday, March 21st, the Al-Aqsa Mosque remains closed, and Israeli authorities have not announced a timeline for its reopening. The situation remains tense, with no immediate diplomatic initiatives reported to address the concerns of Palestinian worshippers.
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