For the first time since 1967, Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque was closed on the final day of Ramadan, forcing hundreds of Palestinian worshippers to pray outside the Old City. Israeli police barricaded entrances to the holy site, citing security concerns related to the conflict with Iran. The closure also affected the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall.
Palestinians view the move as part of a broader Israeli strategy to tighten restrictions on the compound, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. Hazen Bulbul, a 48-year-old Jerusalem resident, described it as 'the saddest day for Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem,' warning of a dangerous precedent. Since October 2023, Israeli authorities have increased arrests of Palestinian worshippers and allowed settler incursions.
On Friday morning, Israeli forces used stun grenades to disperse crowds near Herod's Gate, detaining at least seven Palestinians. The Old City was largely deserted, with most businesses closed except pharmacies and essential food shops. Traders reported acute economic hardship.
An Iranian missile was intercepted by the IDF in the afternoon, with fragments damaging a car park in the Jewish Quarter, about 400 metres from the mosque. No casualties were reported. Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, al-Aqsa's preacher, urged Muslims to pray as close to the mosque as possible.
The Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and African Union condemned the closure as a 'blatant violation of international law,' warning it could inflame regional tensions.
