Ramallah, April 9, 2026 (WAFA) – Muhannad Jadou
The prostration of gratitude performed by an elderly Jerusalemite at the threshold of the Lions’ Gate was not merely a prayer, but a declaration of the return of the spirit to the body of the holy city, after forty days of deprivation imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities, which prevented worshippers from their mosque .
Since February 28th, the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City of Jerusalem have been living in a state of suffocation and closure, in a precedent not recorded since 1967. The voices of worshippers were absent, and thousands were prevented from reaching its precincts, while the markets of the Old City were devoid of worshippers and tourists .
Today, the mosque’s doors have turned into arenas for hugs, tears, and prostrations. The scene was not limited to the elderly whose lives were linked to the dawn prayer, but young men advanced to the front, shedding tears of joy, in a majestic image that reflects the mosque’s place in the hearts of Palestinians .
Passersby and activists captured moving scenes that quickly went viral on social media, showing worshippers prostrating themselves in prayer as soon as they crossed the threshold of the mosque. One man was also seen at a gate holding a pack of tissues, distributing them to those entering, saying, “We’ve been deprived of this reward for 40 days… Thank God, people are wiping away tears of joy at returning to Al-Aqsa.”
These scenes served as a reminder that Jerusalem is not merely a geographical location or a political issue, but a living belief and part of the daily identity of Palestinians, and that their connection to their mosque transcends all closure measures, so that the “prostration of gratitude” remains the most eloquent expression of the triumph of will .
As usual, the occupation did not leave any room for joy without spoiling it; these feelings quickly clashed with the reality of restrictions, as the courtyards of the mosque turned into an arena for strict measures under the pretext of providing protection for the settlers .
The gates and squares were turned into checkpoints, where identities were checked, some young men were abused, and others were detained and arrested, in a clear attempt to spoil the joy of returning .
The measures did not stop there, but extended to include the worshippers; the Jerusalem Governorate reported that the occupation police arrested one of the worshippers and removed her from the mosque, hours after arresting a young man inside its courtyards, and forcing others to leave under threat, coinciding with the start of the settlers’ incursions .
One Jerusalemite citizen expressed his satisfaction at being able to perform prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque again, stressing that the return to group prayers represents a strengthening of the Muslim presence in the place and a demonstration of their religious values .
He pointed out that closing or attacking places of worship constitutes a dangerous precedent, recalling the earlier closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and considering that what is happening in Al-Aqsa Mosque is worrying in light of what he described as provocative practices within its courtyards .
The citizen stressed that these practices contribute to fueling tension, calling for respect for the sanctity of religious places and the preservation of the status quo, emphasizing the need to stay away from policies that could ignite conflicts, and to respect everyone’s right to live in peace .
This escalation comes in parallel with the implementation of a decision to extend the hours of storming the mosque by an additional half hour, starting from 6:30 am, which raises the duration of the daily incursions to about six and a half hours, in an attempt to establish a new reality inside the sanctuary .
The settlers performed collective and public Talmudic rituals opposite the Dome of the Rock, at the western portico of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They also performed what is called “epic prostration,” amid calls by extremist “Temple” groups to intensify incursions in large numbers .
Earlier, seven attempts were recorded to bring the animal “Passover sacrifice” into the mosque, the highest number since 1967, which is a direct violation of the existing historical and legal status quo, and a rapid step towards enshrining the temporal and spatial division .
Since June 2025, at the behest of the extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, settlers have expanded their performance of Talmudic rituals to include different areas of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and these rituals are now performed collectively and loudly .
The occupation authorities exploited the cover of the “state of emergency” during the Israeli-American war against Iran and imposed a series of unprecedented measures in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City of Jerusalem, which included closing it for 40 days, closing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during the forty-day fast preceding Easter, and imposing strict restrictions on the entry of Muslims and Christians .
Media advisor to the Jerusalem governorate, Marouf Al-Rifai, said that thousands of Jerusalemite citizens flocked to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the dawn prayer, amid an atmosphere of joy and emotion following its reopening, noting that the number of worshippers exceeded 6,000 worshippers according to the estimates of the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem .
Al-Rifai added that this atmosphere did not last long, as it was immediately followed by incursions carried out by settlers into the courtyards of the mosque, which began at six thirty in the morning, half an hour later than the usual time which used to start at seven in the morning and extend until eleven thirty in the afternoon .
He pointed out that colonial groups have intensified their attempts during the past period to bring animal sacrifices into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where seven attempts were recorded, five of which were thwarted at the walls of the Old City, while two attempts were stopped at the gates of the mosque, after they reached the alleys of the Old City .
Al-Rifai pointed out that the settlers’ incursions returned in conjunction with the reopening of the mosque to worshippers, with an increase in their duration during the morning period, warning of plans that seek, as he described it, to impose a new reality in Al-Aqsa Mosque, similar to what happened in the Ibrahimi Mosque .
—
M.J.
About the Author
