Israel announced that Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque will be suspended due to heightened security concerns following escalating regional conflict and Iranian retaliatory missile strikes against Israeli targets. Authorities cited the need to prevent further unrest in occupied Jerusalem.
Brigadier General Hisham Ibrahim, head of the Israeli Civil Administration, stated that all religious sites in Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa, the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, will remain closed to worshippers and pilgrims on Friday.
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The decision follows military operations launched by Israel and the United States against Iran, which triggered retaliatory attacks and left at least 12 dead in Israel and over 1,230 casualties in Iran. Authorities have restricted civilian entry to occupied Jerusalem, allowing only local residents and essential personnel.
Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri, senior imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, strongly condemned the closure, calling it unjustified and part of a continued pattern of restrictions. Even before the current conflict, access limitations affected Palestinian worshippers, including capped attendance for Ramadan prayers last month.
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Under current arrangements, the mosque complex is officially administered by Jordan, while Israeli security forces control access. Non-Muslims may visit during specified hours but are prohibited from praying or displaying religious symbols, though Israeli officials have called for expanded access for Jewish worship.
The situation adds further tension to Jerusalem, a city with contested status since Israel captured and later annexed East Jerusalem in 1967, a move not recognised internationally. Settler activity and political statements continue to fuel concerns over the mosque’s future and regional stability.