Israel Banned Palestinians From Praying At Al-Aqsa Mosque On Eid For The First Time In 59 Years And Attacked People Praying There
Crowds were seen running towards the mosque, with people being pushed back and attacked by Israeli forces who used tear gas.
On Friday, March 20, Israeli authorities closed Al-Aqsa Mosque on the morning of Eid, blocking Palestinian worshippers from entering one of Islam’s holiest sites and forcing many to pray outside Jerusalem’s Old City instead.
This is the first time since 1967 that Muslims had been prevented from holding Eid prayers at the site.
Crowds were seen running towards the mosque, with people being pushed back and attacked by Israeli forces who used tear gas and kept access to the Old City tightly controlled.
The closure followed weeks of restrictions during Ramadan. On March 5, Israeli authorities announced that Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa would be canceled during the holy month, citing security concerns after Israel and the US launched a war on Iran.
Following the joint attacks, Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones at Israel and at US military bases across the region, including in Gulf states hosting American forces.
On March 16, missile fragments from Iran landed near the mosque without major damage.
Israel then posted on X, “The Iranian “gift” for Eid al-Fitr: Missiles on Al-Aqsa. The Iranian attack on the holy sites sacred to all three religions reveals the madness of the Iranian regime, which claims to be religious.”
Palestinian Christians also faced disruption during Lent, which started in February and will end in April.
Israeli authorities also shut the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for an extended period as part of its move to shut holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Clergy and worshippers have challenged the justification for the restrictions.
“This is illegal. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is in East Jerusalem and they have no legal jurisdiction over East Jerusalem and the Old City; they are an occupying power,” prominent Palestinian Reverend Munther Isaac told The New Arab.
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