Hundreds of Muslim worshippers gathered at the gates of Jerusalem's Old City to mark Eid al-Fitr after Israeli authorities closed access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque amid the ongoing war with Iran. With restrictions on large gatherings and heightened security following missile fire, worshippers prayed in the streets under police supervision, with some briefly clashing with officers before being allowed to hold a short outdoor prayer.

Researchers say this is the first time since 1967 that the mosque has been closed during the final days of Ramadan and for Eid. The usual crowds of tens of thousands were reduced to just a few hundred, a stark contrast that underscored the gravity of the moment for many Palestinians.

While Israeli authorities say the closures are necessary for public safety, some Palestinians fear the measures could signal changes to longstanding arrangements governing Jerusalem's holy sites. For many worshippers, the inability to pray at Islam's third holiest site during one of the most sacred times of year brought deep sadness and a sense of personal and collective loss.