Israel tightens Al-Aqsa access on Ramadan's first Friday, turns hundreds back
2026-02-20 - 09:42
Israeli authorities enforced strict entry restrictions on Palestinian worshippers seeking to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan, turning back hundreds at military checkpoints surrounding occupied East Jerusalem despite many holding prior permits. Anadolu correspondents reported large troop deployments and a heavy security presence at crossing points as thousands gathered before dawn hoping to reach the holy site. Quotas and Crowds at Checkpoints The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate stated that "thousands of West Bank residents are crowded at the Qalandiya checkpoint, and the occupation authorities are refusing to allow them to enter on the grounds that the permitted number for Friday, set at 10,000 people, has been reached." Israeli forces maintained the quota system while senior military officers oversaw checkpoint operations, reflecting heightened alert levels since Ramadan began Wednesday. Heightened Security Measures Israel raised its security alert across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem with the start of the holy month. Palestinian rights organizations report that authorities have intensified arrests and issued expulsion orders in East Jerusalem in recent weeks, adding to tensions. The restrictions come amid ongoing military operations and settler violence across the West Bank since October 2023. Political Context Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, citing international resolutions that do not recognize Israel's 1967 occupation and subsequent annexation. The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, has long been a flashpoint for tensions, with access restrictions during religious periods generating recurring friction between worshippers and Israeli security forces. The heavy military deployment on Ramadan's first Friday signals continued tightening of measures despite the Gaza ceasefire, with West Bank Palestinians bearing the brunt of access limitations to their holy sites.