For the first time in living memory, Palestinian worshippers have been denied access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the last ten nights of Ramadan, the most sacred period of the Islamic calendar. Israeli authorities imposed sweeping closures and deployed extensive security forces, blocking thousands of faithful from attending Laylat al-Qadr prayers and nightly devotions that traditionally draw massive crowds to the revered site. Similar restrictions were enforced at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, preventing congregants from performing I'tikaf, the spiritual retreat observed during these final days of the holy month.

Jerusalem researchers warn that the unprecedented measures are part of a systematic effort to diminish the Islamic presence at Al-Aqsa and alter the longstanding character of its courtyards. The closures sever a centuries-old tradition of worship and communal gathering, striking at the heart of religious life for Palestinians across the occupied territories. Calls have been issued for international human rights bodies to intervene, with observers emphasising that barring access to holy sites during Ramadan constitutes a fundamental violation of religious freedom and the right to worship.

In Hebron, the director of the Ibrahimi Mosque confirmed that the closures have not only prevented thousands from praying but have also hindered Islamic endowment staff from carrying out their duties. The measures are described as a flagrant breach of the historic legal status governing the site. Religious and community leaders urge immediate international action to reopen the mosques, warning that the erosion of access to these sacred spaces represents a dangerous escalation against Palestinian religious and cultural identity.