Thousands of Palestinians have been forced to pray on the streets outside Al-Aqsa Mosque after Israeli authorities barred entry to the compound. The closure, imposed under security restrictions, has left worshippers performing prayers near the Bab al-Sahira gate in Jerusalem during the final days of Ramadan.

In previous years, hundreds of thousands gathered inside Al-Aqsa for Friday prayers during Ramadan. However, since the joint Israel–United States military operation against Iran began on February 28, Israel has tightened access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its holy sites. According to the report, this is the first complete closure of Al-Aqsa since 1967. Before the war, Israel had already limited entry, allowing only 10,000 worshippers from the occupied West Bank on the first Friday of Ramadan, compared to the usual half a million.

Worshippers expressed deep sorrow over being unable to enter the mosque, describing the experience as losing something precious during one of the holiest periods of the year.