US EditionRamadan's First Friday Prayers Are Held at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israel allowed 10,000 Palestinians from the West Bank to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque under age and security restrictions, citing fears of unrest during Ramadan.
- On Friday, tens of thousands of Palestinian worshippers gathered at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for Ramadan's first Friday prayers since the October ceasefire with Hamas.
- Israel restricted West Bank entries to 10,000 and set narrow age limits—men over 55, women over 50, and children up to 12—to manage access citing security concerns.
- Officials deployed more than 3,000 police across Jerusalem while some West Bank permit-holders, including Jihad Bisharat, were turned away and Islamic Waqf reported about 80,000 attended, below normal peaks of 200,000.
- Many Palestinians view the heavier security presence and visits by religious and nationalist Israeli Jews as a provocation, fearing a takeover or partition of the compound, which the Israeli government denies.
- Near-Daily strikes in Gaza continue as the territory endures heavy civilian losses, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting more than 72,000 killed and residents mourning Ramadan's muted spirit after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Ramadan's first Friday prayers are held at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque
Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered under heavy Israeli restrictions at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, including some who were allowed to enter from the occupied West Bank.
The limitations coincide with a significant increase in occupation violence and armed settlers against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Peaceful Prayers Amid Turmoil: Al-Aqsa and the Spirit of Ramadan
Tens of thousands of Muslims attended the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, amid heavy security following a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Restrictions limited the number of Palestinians entering from the West Bank. Meanwhile, in Gaza, residents mourn their losses amid ongoing instability.
Palestinians wait at West Bank checkpoint to enter Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers
Palestinian worshippers were at the Qalandiya checkpoint on Friday awaiting to cross from the Israeli-occupied West Bank into Jerusalem and attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
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