According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Friday, March 27, 2026, Israeli authorities have continued to prevent Muslim worshippers from observing Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the fourth straight week, keeping the site closed under emergency measures introduced amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The mosque, regarded as Islam’s third-holiest site, has remained shut since late February. Israeli police have maintained a strong presence around the compound, sealing its gates and deploying security forces across Jerusalem’s Old City to restrict access and prevent large gatherings.
Officials said the decision to close the site was based on directives from Israel’s Home Front Command, which has imposed restrictions on large public gatherings due to security concerns linked to the conflict. Since the measures were introduced, access to the mosque has been limited to a small number of guards and officials from the Islamic Waqf, the body responsible for administering the site.
In addition to Al-Aqsa Mosque, authorities also shut down the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity’s most significant religious landmarks, as part of broader precautionary measures.
Residents and eyewitnesses reported that police also prevented Palestinians from gathering for prayers in areas surrounding the Old City, including key locations such as Salah al-Din Street. Many worshippers had hoped to pray as close as possible to the mosque due to its continued closure, following calls circulated within the community. However, security forces dispersed such gatherings, prompting many to instead attend prayers at smaller neighbourhood mosques.
The restrictions come during a sensitive period, as authorities also barred large congregational prayers during the recent Eid al-Fitr celebrations at the site an unprecedented move since Israel took control of East Jerusalem in 1967.
Earlier in the week, the Israeli government extended its state of emergency measures until mid-April, though it remains unclear whether the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque will continue for the same duration. Officials have not provided a definitive timeline for reopening the site to the general public….See More
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