Palestinian officials have reported that restrictions are being imposed around the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem and that Israeli police will deploy in force ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins this week, raising tensions over access to the flashpoint religious site.
Israeli authorities announced plans for a substantial police deployment “day and night” around the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound — also known to Jews as the Temple Mount — and the surrounding Old City during Ramadan, a period when hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers traditionally converge for prayers and observances. Senior police officer Arad Braverman said that thousands of officers will be on duty, especially during Friday prayers, which historically draw the largest crowds.
The police said they have recommended issuing approximately 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank to enter Jerusalem for prayer, with final numbers and conditions to be decided by the Israeli government. Those permits are required due to Israeli regulations governing West Bank access to the city.
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Palestinian officials have accused Israeli authorities of restricting entry permits and curbing routine preparations at the site, which is administered by the Jordanian‑run Islamic Waqf. According to the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate, alleged curbs include blocking Waqf workers from installing shade structures and setting up temporary medical clinics inside the compound in the run‑up to Ramadan.
Under longstanding arrangements, non‑Muslims may visit the compound but are prohibited from praying there, a status quo that Israel says it intends to uphold. However, Palestinians fear that the increased security presence and reported restrictions could undermine access and the traditional functioning of the site during Ramadan, particularly for worshippers from the West Bank.
Al‑Aqsa — one of Islam’s holiest sites — has often been a flashpoint in the decades‑long Israeli–Palestinian conflict, especially during Ramadan, when large gatherings heighten the potential for clashes and political tensions.
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