Jerusalem: Israeli forces forcibly evacuated Muslim worshippers from the Al-Aqsa Mosque after the dawn prayer today and subsequently sealed the mosque’s gates, according to local sources reported by Wafa. This marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the mosque has been emptied and closed by Israeli authorities. The police stormed the mosque compound, preventing worshippers from remaining inside, escalating tensions in the holy city.
The closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque coincided with Israel’s announcement of a full lockdown across the West Bank, implemented just hours after Israel launched a large-scale military attack on Iran. The lockdown includes the closure of dozens of military checkpoints and gates, with several secondary roads between towns, villages, and cities blocked by dirt mounds, severely restricting the movement of Palestinians.
These actions have heightened fears of further instability in the region, as the Israeli military tightens control over the West Bank amid rising regional tensions. The closure of such a significant religious site has drawn widespread condemnation and underscores the fragile situation facing Palestinians in Jerusalem and beyond.