Israel blocks Palestinians from attending Al-Aqsa Ramadan prayers amid rising West Bank tensions. The restrictions matter because they limit access to one of Islam’s holiest sites and fuel unrest. The move affects thousands of worshippers in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
Israeli authorities allowed only 10,000 Palestinians to enter the mosque for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan. Entry was restricted to children under 12, men over 55, and women over 50. Hundreds queued at the Qalandiya checkpoint near Ramallah hoping to attend prayers.
The restrictions come amid increased violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem by illegal Israeli settlers. Earlier in the week, settlers reportedly shot and killed Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a Palestinian-American teenager, during an attack east of Ramallah. Witnesses said settlers fired live bullets and used sticks against those injured. Israel acknowledged using tear gas and sound grenades but denied firing live ammunition.
Read more: Israel police to deploy around Al-Aqsa for Ramazan
The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since 2023. Over 10,000 people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Humanitarian groups warned that restrictions on worship and ongoing settler attacks exacerbate tensions and increase suffering among civilians.
The clampdown occurred a day after US President Donald Trump announced that nine countries pledged $7 billion toward Gaza relief. Five countries agreed to deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force. The pledged funds represent only a fraction of the estimated $70 billion needed to rebuild Gaza after two years of war.
Read more: Israel to restrict Al–Aqsa access during Ramadan
President Trump described the aid as “an investment in stability and hope for a harmonious region.” Despite the announcement, details on fund disbursement remain unclear and require congressional approval. Meanwhile, Palestinians continue to face restrictions, violence, and limited access to religious sites during the holy month of Ramadan.