Jerusalem: The Palestinian Presidency on Friday raised concerns over Israeli attempts to enforce a "new reality" at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during Ramadan, as measures are being implemented to restrict worshippers' access to the mosque. Most Arab countries, including Palestine, announced Saturday as the first day of Ramadan after the crescent moon was sighted.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine said that "the occupation's announcement of doubling its repressive measures during Ramadan, including limiting the number of worshippers and issuing expulsion orders, aims to empty Al-Aqsa Mosque and isolate it from its Palestinian surroundings." The committee stated that these actions are part of Israel's "Judaization project for Jerusalem and its holy sites."
The committee called on "the Arab and Islamic nations, international institutions, and churches worldwide to take responsibility for stopping the aggression, ending the occupation, and protecting the future of our people, their land, and their holy sites." During Ramadan, Israeli authorities routinely impose restrictions on Palestinians, limiting their access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is considered the third-holiest site in Islam.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that police will prohibit Palestinians recently released from jails from entering the site during the holy month. Additionally, KAN stated that police would deploy 3,000 personnel daily at checkpoints leading to East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. It was also reported that police recommended issuing only 10,000 permits to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank to enter the mosque, with permits granted to men above 55 and women above 50.
The area known as Temple Mount by Jews is claimed to have been the site of two ancient Jewish temples. Israel seized East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and annexed the entire city in 1980, a move not recognized by the international community. In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, demanding the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.