Jerusalem (UNA/WAFA) – The Jerusalem Governorate considered the Israeli occupation's measures, represented by the recommendations of the so-called “Israeli Parliamentary National Security Committee” to restrict the access of worshippers from the West Bank to the city of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming month of Ramadan, a blatant violation of freedom of worship and an arbitrary preemptive move..
The governorate explained in a statement that the recommendations include restricting entry both quantitatively and by category, and imposing arrests and prosecutions against citizens, as part of proactive plans aimed at imposing further control and restrictions on Jerusalem and limiting the basic religious rights of Palestinians coming from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It stressed that what is worse is that these restrictions become a de facto reality on the ground..
She noted that these measures come in the context of escalating incursions by settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the recording of unprecedented violations with the support of the occupation authorities, whose restrictions have intensified since October 2023, including the imposition of special and complex permits and age restrictions, thus depriving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque except in very limited numbers..
The governorate noted that for decades, residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip have viewed Ramadan as a golden opportunity to enter Jerusalem, given that the occupation prevents most of them from accessing it throughout the year. During Ramadan in 2024 and 2025, the occupation imposed unprecedented restrictions, limiting the number of worshippers entering Jerusalem to 10,000 per week and only on Fridays. These restrictions included requiring a permit and a difficult-to-obtain magnetic card, a requirement to leave before nightfall, and age limits for men, women, and children. This led to the partial emptying of Al-Aqsa Mosque and a significant decrease in the number of Friday prayer attendees, from 250,000 before October 2023 to 80,000 on the second Friday of Ramadan 2025. Furthermore, for the first time since 2014, the occupation prevented the practice of i'tikaf (night prayer) in Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday and Saturday nights, forcibly expelling the few who attempted to remain. This contributed to the success of the occupation's unprecedented policy of controlling the mosque and imposing its restrictions..
The governorate explained that the discriminatory reality in Jerusalem includes the closure of Palestinian neighborhoods and main streets during Jewish holidays and events to allow hundreds of thousands of settlers access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall, and the Old City. Meanwhile, Palestinians face severe restrictions during Islamic and Christian holidays and events, particularly Ramadan, effectively turning the city into a closed military barracks with thorough searches at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City. The occupation justifies these actions as "security," while the true reason is its repressive policies, ongoing violations, and the continuation of its illegal occupation, oppression, and comprehensive aggression against our people..
She added that these discriminatory policies include settler attacks on Palestinians and preventing Christians from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate their religious holidays and occasions, reflecting an ongoing reality of religious discrimination and systematic oppression. Furthermore, unprecedented restrictions were imposed inside Al-Aqsa Mosque last Ramadan, with occupation police forces maintaining a 24-hour presence during dawn, night prayers, Taraweeh, and Friday prayers, conducting thorough searches of worshippers and even the tents used for Itikaf (seclusion for worship), and arresting any Palestinian entering the mosque without a permit..
The governorate pointed out that these restrictions not only affect freedom of worship, but also extend their impact to economic activity in Jerusalem, including commercial activity related to the month of Ramadan, thus deepening the social and economic impact on the city and its residents..
She stressed that these measures are a direct extension of the occupation's policy aimed at isolating Jerusalem and separating it from its Palestinian surroundings, and forcibly imposing changes on the historical, legal, and political reality of the city, including the attempt to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque temporally and spatially, in preparation for imposing the alleged temple in its place..
The governorate concluded its statement by emphasizing that these measures constitute a flagrant violation of international law, freedom of worship, and citizens' rights. It held the occupying authorities fully responsible for any repercussions and called upon the international community, human rights organizations, and the media to intervene urgently to halt these violations, protect the religious and civil rights of Palestinians, and guarantee free access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the city's holy sites in general..
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