Israel Bans Non-Muslim Visits to Al-Aqsa Compound until Ramadan End

Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)
Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)
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Israel Bans Non-Muslim Visits to Al-Aqsa Compound until Ramadan End

Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)
Palestinian Muslim devotees perform an evening prayer known as "Tarawih" outside the Dome of the Rock shrine in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on April 8, 2023. (AFP)

Jewish visitors and tourists will be banned from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem until the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday.

An Israeli police raid at the site last week triggered rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria that were met with Israeli strikes.

In previous years Israel has banned Jewish visits to the compound in the last 10 days of Ramadan.



Lufthansa Extends Middle East Flight Suspensions Through Aug. 26 

A plane lands at Beirut-RafiK Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)
A plane lands at Beirut-RafiK Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)
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Lufthansa Extends Middle East Flight Suspensions Through Aug. 26 

A plane lands at Beirut-RafiK Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)
A plane lands at Beirut-RafiK Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, 12 August 2024. (EPA)

Germany's Lufthansa Group extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman and Erbil again on Monday, with flights now affected up to and including August 26.

The group, which includes carriers Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Eurowings, will also be avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace up to and including that date, it said, over fears of an escalation in the Middle East.