Jews have banned entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for Muslims in Jerusalem, Palestine. This is the first time the mosque has been closed in this manner since the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the Fajr prayer on Friday, Jewish soldiers entered the mosque and expelled those inside. They then closed the doors and gates of the mosque. People present in the area at the time said that Jewish soldiers announced that no one would be allowed to enter the mosque. Consequently, Friday prayers were not performed at Al-Aqsa Mosque that day.
The Jews closed Al-Aqsa Mosque after launching powerful attacks against Iran, while also imposing a lockdown in the occupied West Bank. Since then, Iran has been launching strong counterattacks against the Jews.
Aoun Bazbaz, Director of International Affairs, Diplomacy and Tourism at the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, said he was concerned that Jews might use the exchange of attacks between Jews and Iran as an excuse to exert more control over Al-Aqsa Mosque. He said there was no doubt that Jews would work to impose new restrictions on the use of Al-Aqsa Mosque while the world’s attention is focused on Gaza and Iran, which are continuously being attacked by Jews.
