JERUSALEM – The Israeli government announced on Thursday that it will implement “safety restrictions” at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, set to begin this weekend. The move has sparked concerns among Palestinians who fear restricted access to one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Annual Restrictions and Security Concerns
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian worshippers gather at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan. However, Israeli authorities have imposed access limitations in past years, citing security reasons. According to government spokesman David Mencer, “The usual restrictions for public safety will be in place, as they have been every year.”
Impact of Ongoing Tensions in Gaza
This year’s Ramadan coincides with a fragile ceasefire in Gaza following a devastating war that resulted in significant casualties. Last year, amid the conflict, Israeli authorities restricted access to Al-Aqsa, allowing only men aged 55 and older and women over 50 from the occupied West Bank to enter the site.
Concerns Over Status Quo and Palestinian Reactions
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in East Jerusalem, holds deep religious and national significance for Palestinians. While Jews are permitted to visit the site, they are not allowed to pray there under longstanding agreements. However, increased visits by Jewish ultranationalists, including far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, have fueled Palestinian concerns about potential changes to the site’s status quo.
Israeli officials have stated that they will uphold the existing arrangements at Al-Aqsa. However, Mencer emphasized that authorities will not tolerate any attempts to incite violence at the site. “What we cannot allow, of course, is people seeking to foment violence and attacks on anyone else,” he stated, without providing details on this year’s police deployment.
Looking Ahead
Despite last year’s war, Israel permitted Muslim worshippers to attend prayers at Al-Aqsa in similar numbers as previous years. However, as tensions remain high, Palestinians fear renewed restrictions that could limit their religious freedoms during Ramadan.
