For a third straight day, access to the Al Aqsa Mosque has been fully blocked, leaving worshippers locked out of one of Islam’s holiest sites. The decision, framed as a security measure, marks a sharp escalation in restrictions not seen in recent years and comes amid the wider backdrop of a genocidal war. All entrances to the compound were sealed, with uniformed personnel deployed across the surrounding streets.

Across the Old City and neighbouring districts of Jerusalem, movement has become increasingly constrained. Additional checkpoints have narrowed passageways, identity checks have multiplied, and residents report long delays that disrupt daily life. The clampdown has also impeded access to other places of worship, intensifying the sense of a city under siege.

These measures have unfolded during Ramadan, a period traditionally marked by communal prayer and evening gatherings. Community leaders warn that the closures risk deepening humanitarian strain and inflaming tensions across the occupied territories. As the genocidal war continues to cast a long shadow, the sealing of sacred spaces has become a potent symbol of a broader campaign reshaping life in the city.