Israel’s police force said Thursday that Israelis will be allowed to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the first week of Ramadan, raising concerns about the access for Palestinians to the revered site during the holy month.
Al-Aqsa has often been the site of Palestinian protests and clashes with Israeli police, especially during times of high tension like the current war between Israel and Hamas.
Palestinians from the occupied West Bank have been unable to visit Jerusalem under Israeli government restrictions put in place immediately after an Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel killed 1,200. Israel’s invasion of Gaza in response has killed more than 30,000 people.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. Jews consider the compound the most sacred site in Judaism and refer to it as the biblical Temple Mount.
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the same number of people as last year would be allowed to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for prayers during the first week of Ramadan and that this would be evaluated “on a week-to-week basis” throughout the holy month. The statement did not say who would be allowed onto the compound.
In 2023, over 289,000 Palestinians from the West Bank visited Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers, according to Israeli authorities.
The Israeli police did not respond to The Associated Press’ request to clarify the restrictions.
Ramadan is expected to start Sunday but depends on the sighting of the crescent moon.
