From 250,000 to 10,000: Israel slashes Palestinians’ access to Al‑Aqsa for Ramadan

Israel is severely limiting how many Palestinians from the occupied West Bank can reach the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, allowing only a small, age‑restricted number despite large queues at the Qalandiya checkpoint.

Israeli authorities announced they would permit no more than 10,000 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank to enter the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound for the day, and only with permits, far fewer than in past years. Only children under 12, men over 55, and women 50 or older are eligible, and early reports said only about 2,000 people had crossed through the Qalandiya checkpoint toward Jerusalem by morning, amid a high‑alert security posture at checkpoints separating the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (Al Jazeera)

The restrictions have left many waiting in long lines, as noted by Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh, who reported that the allowed number is only a trickle compared with previous years. She said, There are 3.3 million people in the occupied West Bank … so allowing only 10,000 to pray on this first Friday or Ramadan is a drop in the ocean, and only a trickle have been able to make it in. She added that in prior years up to 250,000 worshippers visited, and that many people remained stuck at the checkpoint trying to reach the mosque. (Al Jazeera)

Observers point to the scale of the change from past traditions, with Odeh noting that visiting the compound for Ramadan is part of a long‑standing heritage for Palestinians, and that this year many will be unable to observe the fast in Jerusalem as they are used to. Getting to the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound is part of the Palestinian tradition, she said, underscoring the significance of the limitations on movement and access during one of Islam’s holiest periods. (Al Jazeera)

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