On the first Friday of Ramadan, access to the compound of Al‑Aqsa Mosque was heavily restricted, as thousands of worshippers encountered fortified checkpoints and heightened security measures. Despite the obstacles, many attempted the journey in the early hours, determined to reach one of Islam’s holiest sites during the sacred month, only to be turned back after hours of waiting.

Limits were imposed on numbers and eligibility, with entry capped and conditioned by age and permit requirements. At the Qalandiya checkpoint, scenes of congestion unfolded as families were separated and individuals denied passage without explanation. Only a fraction of those who sought to cross were allowed through, underscoring the scale of the restrictions as deployments increased across occupied areas of East Jerusalem.

Inside the compound, the presence of Israeli settlers further heightened tensions, with reports of provocative visits during Ramadan prayers. Community leaders and religious figures warned that such measures undermine freedom of worship and risk permanently altering the character of the site. They urged sustained presence and vigilance throughout the month to safeguard access and religious practice, as concerns grow that these policies form part of a wider strategy unfolding amid an ongoing genocidal war.

The clampdown comes against a broader backdrop of rising settler violence across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, marked by home demolitions, land seizures and the use of live ammunition. Religious leaders cautioned that the approach pursued under the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu could sharply reduce attendance at Al-Aqsa compared with previous years, deepening a sense of collective punishment during Ramadan.