Al-Aqsa Mosque Sealed During Eid al-Fitr, Forcing Palestinians to Pray in Streets
In an unprecedented move that has sparked widespread outrage, Israeli authorities closed Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque complex during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, marking the first such closure since 1967. Hundreds of Muslim worshippers were forced to pray outside the Old City on Friday morning as Israeli police barricaded entrances to Islam's third holiest site.
Security Concerns Cited as Reason for Closure
Israeli officials framed the closure as a security measure linked to escalating tensions with Iran, stating that the mosque complex had been effectively sealed to most Muslim worshippers since February 28 during Ramadan. However, Palestinians argue this represents a broader strategy to leverage security concerns to tighten restrictions and entrench control over the sacred site.
The al-Aqsa mosque compound, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, encompasses the seventh-century Dome of the Rock shrine. To Jews, it represents the site of the First and Second Temples, with the latter destroyed by Romans in AD 70.
"The Saddest Day for Muslim Worshippers"
"Tomorrow will be the saddest day for Muslim worshippers in Jerusalem," said Hazen Bulbul, a 48-year-old Jerusalem resident who has marked the end of Ramadan at al-Aqsa since childhood. "What I fear is that this sets a dangerous precedent. It may be the first time, but probably not the last."
Bulbul noted that Israeli interference in the holy city has escalated significantly since October 7, 2023, referring to the Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent Gaza war. In recent months, there has been a sharp increase in arrests of Palestinian worshippers and religious staff in the Old City, alongside repeated incursions by Israeli settlers.
Empty Streets and Economic Hardship
The normally bustling Old City, typically crowded with Palestinians in the days leading up to Eid, stood largely deserted on Friday. Palestinian shopkeepers were barred from opening most businesses, with only pharmacies and essential food shops permitted to operate.
Traders reported that these measures pushed them into acute economic hardship during what should be a peak commercial period. At approximately 6 a.m., Israeli forces blocked worshippers from entering the Old City through Herod's Gate, deploying what appeared to be stun grenades to disperse the gathering crowd.
Religious Ruling and Security Presence
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of al-Aqsa and former grand mufti of Jerusalem, issued a religious ruling urging Muslims to perform Eid prayers at the closest possible point to the mosque. With a heavy security presence in the Old City's alleys and Israeli forces conducting searches and confronting residents, many fear tensions could escalate into clashes with police.
Khalil Assali, director of the media unit in the president's office at al-Quds University, described the mosque's closure as "a catastrophe for Palestinians." He added, "When Israelis see young Palestinians trying to pray at the closest point to al-Aqsa mosque they run after them, they kick them out while they are praying."
International Condemnation Mounts
The closure has drawn strong condemnation from multiple international bodies. The Arab League described it as a "blatant violation of international law" that risks undermining freedom of worship and inflaming regional tensions.
In a joint statement, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, and the African Union Commission expressed their strong condemnation for closing al-Aqsa mosque to Muslim worshippers "especially during the blessed month of Ramadan."
The statement declared that the closure "constitutes a grave violation of the existing historical and legal status quo in the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the occupied city of Jerusalem, an assault on the established religious rights and heritage of the Islamic nation, a provocation to the feelings of Muslims throughout the world, and a violation of freedom of worship and the sanctity of holy places."
The organizations placed full responsibility on Israel "for the consequences of these illegal and provocative measures," warning that their continuation "portends an escalation of violence and tension and threatens to undermine regional and international peace and security."
Gaza's Contrasting Eid Reality
Meanwhile in Gaza, a deepening humanitarian crisis continues amid the wider conflict. Though more sporadic, Israeli bombardments have not ceased as hundreds of thousands of Muslims prepare to mark Eid amid the ruins of wrecked cities.
Gaza experiences Eid as a place of stark contrasts—sorrow and fleeting joy, hunger and celebration, grief and fragile resilience—where the sound of bombardment mingles with traditional celebrations.
"The joy of Eid is incomplete," said Sadeeqa Omar, a 32-year-old mother of two displaced from northern Gaza to Deir al-Balah. "Each of us carries our own burdens. Some have lost their homes, others have lost family members. As for me, my husband is far away and cannot return to Gaza due to the closure of the crossings."
Alaa Al-Farra, 49, who lives in Khan Younis, noted, "This Eid will not be very different from previous Eids, as our movement remains limited due to sudden daily airstrikes."
After months of war, traces of tradition have cautiously returned. In crowded camps, the scent of traditional pastries drifted from makeshift ovens fueled by scraps as families tried to recreate rituals many children have never known. Markets displayed sweets and colors, but for many these remained out of reach as parents settled for minimal offerings to grant momentary festivity.
On Thursday, for the first time since Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza reopened, allowing some UN convoys to enter. Yet Eid's joy remains unevenly distributed across the battered territory.
"Of course, there is a relative sense of safety after the ceasefire, but it is not enough," said Kholoud Baba, 42, from Gaza City. "Just last week, an area near our home in western Gaza was evacuated in preparation for an airstrike."
Behind the subdued celebrations lies a landscape of profound loss: mothers mourning children killed in recent strikes, others marking the holiday in silence, stripped of traditional rituals, navigating Eid with little more than memory and resilience.
