Israel Announces ‘Safety Restrictions’ at Al-Aqsa During Ramadan Amid Heightened Tensions
JERUSALEM, Feb 28 — Israel has announced that it will enforce what it describes as “safety restrictions” at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, set to begin this weekend.
The revered site, known as Islam’s third holiest, draws hundreds of thousands of Palestinian worshippers during Ramadan. Located in East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied and later annexed, Al-Aqsa remains a deeply sensitive religious and political symbol.
This year’s Ramadan coincides with an uneasy ceasefire in Gaza following a brutal conflict that left tens of thousands dead in the Palestinian territory. The fragile truce adds to fears of renewed tensions in Jerusalem.
Restrictions Likely to Mirror Last Year’s Measures
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer confirmed that restrictions similar to those in previous years would be implemented.
“The usual restrictions for public safety will be in place, as they have been every year,” Mencer stated during an online briefing with journalists. However, he did not specify what measures would be enforced or how security forces would be deployed.
During last year’s Ramadan, amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel imposed strict limitations on Palestinian worshippers from the occupied West Bank. Only men over 55 and women over 50 were permitted to enter Al-Aqsa, while Israeli police were heavily deployed throughout Jerusalem’s Old City.
Mencer hinted that similar precautions would be taken again, emphasizing that Israel “cannot and will not allow” individuals to incite violence.
Al-Aqsa’s Status Remains a Flashpoint
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a central symbol of Palestinian identity and a longstanding source of tension. By tradition, Jews are permitted to visit but not pray at the site, which they believe to be the location of the Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
However, in recent years, growing numbers of Jewish ultranationalists have defied these rules, with some, including far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, openly praying at the site while serving as Israel’s national security minister in 2023 and 2024.
Israel has repeatedly asserted its commitment to maintaining the status quo at Al-Aqsa, yet Palestinian fears over the site’s future have made it a recurring flashpoint for unrest.
Last year, despite the Gaza war, Israel allowed Muslim worshippers to access Al-Aqsa in similar numbers to previous years. With Ramadan approaching under tense circumstances, all eyes will be on how Israeli authorities enforce their latest round of restrictions.
— AFP