The Israeli occupation police have heightened security measures in occupied Jerusalem in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan, deploying over 2,000 additional forces starting Friday. According to Israeli media, these forces will be stationed across key areas of Jerusalem, including its entrances, exits, and major road junctions.  

The measures include severe restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, limiting the number of worshipers to only a few thousand. Only 10,000 worshipers from the West Bank will be permitted to attend Friday prayers, with entry restricted to men over 55 and women over 50. Recently released prisoners are also banned from entering the mosque.  

The occupation authorities have intensified surveillance and repression in Jerusalem’s Old City, with five police stations deployed near the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Worshipers face arbitrary arrests and humiliation under flimsy security pretexts, reflecting a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing.  

During last Ramadan, similar restrictions barred men under 55, women under 50, and children over 10 from praying at specific times. These measures, coupled with increased Israeli interference in the administration of Al-Aqsa, have fueled tensions and unrest in the city.  

Recently, Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque have escalated, with settlers performing provocative Talmudic rituals, including the so-called “epic prostration” in its courtyards. These actions represent daily violations against the holy site, further inflaming the situation.  

Al-Aqsa Mosque traditionally attracts hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during Ramadan, particularly for Friday and Taraweeh prayers. However, the occupation’s restrictions and provocations continue to undermine the sanctity of the site and deepen the suffering of worshippers.