Summary
Israel is limiting the number of Palestinians allowed to attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. Only 10,000 Palestinians with permits can attend, a small number compared to past years. Many people are lined up at checkpoints, but only certain age groups are permitted to cross.
Key Facts
- Israel is restricting the number of Palestinians visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first Friday of Ramadan.
- Only 10,000 Palestinians with permits from the occupied West Bank are allowed to attend.
- In previous years, up to 250,000 worshippers visited the mosque on this occasion.
- The age groups eligible without permits are children under 12, men over 55, and women over 50.
- By morning, approximately 2,000 Palestinians had crossed the Qalandiya checkpoint.
- Israeli forces are on high alert at checkpoints between the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
- Al-Aqsa Mosque is important for Palestinians, with many considering visiting a tradition.
- The restrictions are seen as part of ongoing tensions between Israel and the Palestinian territories.
