Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque raises concerns amid ongoing Iran-Israel conflict

Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque raises concerns amid ongoing Iran-Israel conflict
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Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has remained closed to worshippers for five consecutive days, following Israel’s strikes on Iran that began on June 13, news reports said. Israeli authorities cite security concerns as the reason for the complete shutdown of the 144,000-square-metre religious site.

The closure—enforced after dawn prayers on the day of the strikes—has been described as unprecedented since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967. Worshippers were forcibly removed, with only Islamic Waqf employees currently allowed limited access under tight movement restrictions, according to Middle East Eye and Reuters.

Palestinian officials and religious experts have expressed concern that the closure may signal efforts to change the status quo at Al-Aqsa. They warn of long-term implications, including potential spatial and temporal division of the site, similar to the restrictions imposed on the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

Israeli settlers have also reportedly increased their presence in the Bab al-Rahma area, raising flags and performing religious rituals, actions seen as violations of international agreements regulating non-Muslim access to the site. With restricted access to the Old City and rising fears of permanent policy shifts, religious officials have called for international attention to prevent further erosion of Al-Aqsa’s historical and religious status.