On the first night of Ramadan, amidst the ongoing bloody war in Gaza, Israeli police prevented hundreds of Palestinian worshippers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted some of them. Eyewitnesses reported that large forces of Israeli police blocked the entry of hundreds of worshippers who attempted to pass through several gates of Al-Aqsa, allowing only those over 40 years old and women. They also stated that Israeli forces attacked the worshippers who were prevented from entering at the Council Gate, one of the gates to Al-Aqsa, according to Anadolu Agency on Monday.
This occurred in an atmosphere of rising tension in the West Bank and Jerusalem amid the Israeli war on Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 31,000 Palestinians. Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is one of the holiest sites in the world for Muslims and has often been a flashpoint for potential violence, especially during religious holidays.
As the war in Gaza intensifies, Israel stated that it might impose restrictions on prayer in the mosque courtyard during Ramadan, citing security concerns. A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office last week indicated that a number of worshippers would be allowed to enter the courtyard during the first week of Ramadan, similar to previous years, without announcing any specific numbers. Palestinians, however, reject any such restrictions on their access to Al-Aqsa.
