Israeli Authorities Block Palestinians from Al-Aqsa Mosque for Eid al-Fitr, Worshippers Pray in Streets
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\nIsraeli authorities barred Palestinian worshippers from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem\u2019s Old City for Eid al-Fitr prayers on 20 March 2026, marking the first such closure since Israel seized East Jerusalem in 1967.<\/p>\n
Police barricaded the mosque complex and surrounding gates, forcing thousands of Muslims to perform prayers outside the Old City, particularly along Salah al-Din Street, under a heavy security presence. Attempts by worshippers to approach Bab al-Zahra were met with stun grenades and tear gas, and participants were subsequently pushed further away to Saint George Street.<\/p>\n
The closure restricted entry to registered residents only, preventing many Palestinians from visiting family during the holiday. Journalists reported large-scale disruptions, including identity checks and searches of young men, while the Old City streets, normally vibrant during Ramadan, were largely deserted.<\/p>\n
The move comes amid heightened Israeli security measures citing the war with Iran, though Palestinians view the closure as part of a broader strategy to assert control over Al-Aqsa and the Old City. The mosque, a key symbol of Palestinian identity, has faced months of restrictions, including limited Waqf staff access and the recent arrest of its imam, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Israeli Authorities Block Palestinians from Al-Aqsa Mosque for Eid al-Fitr, Worshippers Pray in Streets ————————————– Israeli authorities barred Palestinian worshippers from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem\u2019s Old City for Eid al-Fitr prayers on 20 March 2026, marking the first such closure since Israel seized East Jerusalem in 1967. Police barricaded the mosque complex and …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[2927],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-palestine"],"yoast_head":"\n