image sourced from original article at Israel will bar Muslim worshippers from attending Friday Ramadan prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City due to ongoing hostilities with Iran. Authorities said the decision follows security assessments and directives aimed at protecting public safety amid continued rocket fire.
According to Israel’s Civil Administration, the closure will apply to all holy sites in the Old City, including the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Worshippers and visitors of all faiths will not be permitted to enter the area on Friday.
In previous weeks, Israel had allowed thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank to attend Ramadan prayers at the site, with attendance capped at 10,000. Officials said the new restrictions are temporary and stem from heightened security risks during the conflict.
