Israeli police said on Monday that they would deploy in force around the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramazan, which begins this week, as Palestinian officials accused Israel of imposing restrictions at the compound. Over the course of the month of fasting and prayer, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians traditionally attend prayers at Al-Aqsa – Islam’s third-holiest site, located in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967 and later annexed. Arad Braverman, a senior Jerusalem police officer, said forces would be deployed “day and night” across the compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and in the surrounding area. He said thousands of police personnel would also be on duty for Friday prayers, which draw the largest crowds of worshippers. Braverman said police had recommended issuing 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, who require special permission to enter Jerusalem. He did not say whether age limits would apply, adding that the final number of people would be decided by the government. The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said in a separate statement it had been informed that permits would again be restricted to men over 55 and women over 50, mirroring last year’s criteria. It said Israeli authorities had blocked the Waqf – the Jordanian-run body administering the site – from carrying out routine preparations, including installing shade structures and setting up temporary medical clinics.
Israel police to deploy around Al-Aqsa for Ramazan
Published on: February 16, 2026 11:46 PM