Jerusalem, March 28, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces continue to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem and prevent worshippers from accessing it, for the 29th consecutive day, under the pretext of security conditions related to the American-Israeli war on Iran .
This coincides with the continued isolation of the Old City of Jerusalem from its surroundings, through military checkpoints and the deployment of occupation forces in its neighborhoods, and preventing Jerusalemites from entering it, with the exception of its residents .
In this context, the occupation authorities imposed strict restrictions yesterday that prevented the holding of Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the Israeli police were heavily deployed at the entrances to the Old City and the gates of the mosque, and prevented citizens from entering, forcing hundreds to perform the prayers in the nearby streets .
This closure, which has been ongoing since the end of February, comes amid unprecedented security measures that coincided with the declaration of a state of emergency .
The restrictions were not limited to Muslims, but also extended to Christian holy sites, as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre remained closed to worshippers and visitors, reflecting a comprehensive policy to isolate the holy city from its surroundings .
In the streets of Jerusalem, the occupation forces pursued worshippers who tried to gather in Salah al-Din Street and the areas adjacent to the walls of the Old City, and used force to disperse them and force them to evacuate the public squares, in an attempt to prevent any manifestations of group prayer outside the walls of the mosque .
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the guards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the employees of the Islamic Waqf Department were the only ones allowed to be present inside the mosque courtyards, and prayers were being held inside the covered prayer halls with very limited numbers, while the outer courtyards remained completely empty of worshippers who used to flock to Al-Aqsa on Fridays .
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S.K.
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