Jerusalem, March 1 — Israel has announced plans to prevent Palestinians released under a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during Ramadan, according to reports from Israeli media on Sunday.
The Israeli public broadcaster KAN said that the forces will block access to the mosque for those freed from detention in the past weeks. This measure, which is set to take effect during Ramadan, will limit Palestinian access to the mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites.
KAN further stated that police will station 3,000 troopers daily at checkpoints to bar the entry.
Police have recommended issuing only 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the West Bank, permitting entry for men over the age of 55 and women over 50.
Israeli authorities have imposed similar restrictions in past years with
tensions often rising during the holy month of Ramadan.
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, called on Palestinians to intensify their presence at the mosque during Ramadan despite the anticipated restrictions.
In a statement reported by Anadolu Agency, Sabri spoke about the resilience of Palestinians in the face of Israeli limitations.
“The holy month is upon us, and our Palestinian people remain steadfast on their land, refusing displacement and compromise,” said Sabri, who also heads the Higher Muslim Committee in Jerusalem.
He condemned Israel's ongoing siege of the mosque, pointing to escalated measures aimed at limiting Palestinian access to the sacred site.
“The mosque remains under siege,” Sabri said, referencing Israel’s increasing efforts to restrict those wishing to pray at Al-Aqsa.
The move comes after hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were released as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza, which went into effect last month. Under the deal, several Israeli captives were also freed.
Al-Aqsa Mosque holds significant religious importance for Muslims as the third-holiest site in Islam. Jews, however, refer to the area as the Temple Mount, claiming it was the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel has annexed East Jerusalem, where the mosque is located, since its occupation of the area during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The city was formally annexed by Israel in 1980, a move that has not been recognized by the international community.
In July, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, is illegal and called for the evacuation of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.