Israel tightens restrictions on West Bank Palestinians’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque

By Qais Abu Samra and Ikram Kouachi

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Israel has imposed severe restrictions on Palestinians from the occupied West Bank seeking to enter Jerusalem for Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to an Anadolu correspondent in the West Bank, Israeli forces reinforced their presence at checkpoints leading to Jerusalem, thoroughly inspecting Palestinian IDs and denying entry to many on the grounds of lacking special permits.

At Qalandia checkpoint in northern Jerusalem and Checkpoint 300 in the south, large crowds formed as Palestinians attempted to enter the city.

Blanca Barakat, a 65-year-old Palestinian woman, recounted her struggle to reach Al-Aqsa: “I tried several times to cross Qalandia checkpoint, but every time they checked my ID and refused to let me in, claiming I lacked a special permit.”

“All these restrictions—for what? More measures we don’t even understand!” she added.

Barakat criticized Israel for allowing illegal settlers to enter Al-Aqsa freely while barring Palestinians, stating: “This is our mosque, the site of our Prophet’s ascension, peace be upon him.”

“They should open all checkpoints and allow all Palestinians to enter Al-Aqsa and pray there,” she said.

Similarly, 70-year-old Saif Mustafa told Anadolu that Israeli forces denied him entry into Jerusalem, also citing a lack of special permits.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved stricter restrictions on Palestinian worshippers’ access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Fridays during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office announced that the government has adopted a security recommendation to allow only a limited number of worshippers from the West Bank to enter the mosque, following the same mechanism used last year.

Under the new restrictions, only men over the age of 55, women over 50, and children under 12 will be permitted to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.

However, access will be contingent upon obtaining a prior security clearance and undergoing thorough security checks at designated checkpoints.

The decision coincides with ongoing daily incursions by hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month alongside increasing restrictions on Palestinians traveling from the West Bank.

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have imposed strict measures limiting Palestinians’ access from the West Bank to East Jerusalem.

Palestinians consider these restrictions as part of Israel’s broader efforts to Judaize East Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.