Israeli police attack Palestinians praying near Al-Aqsa as mosque remains closed

2026-03-18 - 00:20

Israeli police intervened against Palestinians gathered to perform Tarawih prayers in front of the walls of the Old City in East Jerusalem on March 17, in protest of the Tel Aviv administration's closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Using batons, stun grenades, and tear gas, Israeli police attacked the Palestinians and two journalists, one Palestinian and one foreign, despite their identification as members of the press. While pushing the Palestinians toward the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood, Israeli police also detained one individual. Ramadan restrictions The attack comes as Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, remains closed to worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan—a decision that has drawn widespread condemnation from the Muslim world. Palestinians have been gathering near the Old City walls to perform prayers in protest of the closure, facing repeated police intervention. Journalists targeted The targeting of journalists, including one foreign press member, raises concerns about press freedom and the documentation of Israeli security forces' actions. Despite clearly identifying themselves as members of the press, the journalists were subjected to the same crowd control measures as protesters. Broader context The Al-Aqsa closure and subsequent protests occur against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions, with the US-Israeli war on Iran entering its third week and Israeli ground operations in Lebanon displacing over one million people. The restrictions on Muslim worship during Ramadan add another layer of grievance to an already volatile regional landscape.