50,000 Palestinians Pray at Al-Aqsa Despite Tight Israeli Restrictions
Around 50,000 Palestinians perform night prayers at Al-Aqsa amid intensified Israeli security measures and new media bans in occupied Jerusalem
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Tens of thousands of Palestinians performed the Isha and Taraweeh prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday evening, marking the seventh night of the holy month of Ramadan, despite heightened restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities.
Jerusalem-based sources said approximately 50,000 worshippers attended the prayers within the mosque compound, amid tightened access controls and expanded exclusion measures that have intensified since the start of Ramadan.
Tightened Access and West Bank Bans
Israeli authorities imposed additional restrictions on entry to the mosque compound and barred numerous Palestinians from the occupied West Bank from reaching Jerusalem.
In recent weeks, Israeli forces have escalated arrests and exclusion orders described as “preventive,” while tightening entry procedures for worshippers and banning visible Ramadan decorations and public استقبال activities around Al-Aqsa.
Attempts to Alter Al-Aqsa Status Quo
Specialists on Jerusalem affairs said the measures form part of a broader Israeli effort to impose a new reality at Al-Aqsa, directly undermining the historical and legal status quo of the holy site.
They warned that systematic restrictions on worshippers, combined with expanded security enforcement, represent a long-term policy aimed at reshaping control over one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Israel Labels Jerusalem Media as ‘Terrorist’
Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a military order designating five Jerusalem-based digital media platforms as terrorist organizations under Israel’s 2016 counterterrorism law.
According to Israeli army radio, the decision followed a direct recommendation from the Shin Bet, which claimed the platforms served as fronts for Hamas and were intended to incite tension in Jerusalem during Ramadan.
Palestinian media advocates and rights groups have long rejected such allegations, describing them as part of Israel’s broader campaign to silence Palestinian voices, suppress independent reporting, and tighten control over occupied Jerusalem during sensitive religious periods.
Israeli authorities have not ruled out further measures as Ramadan continues, amid growing concern over escalating repression at Al-Aqsa and across the city. (PW)