The continued closure of the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy month of Ramadan has drawn growing condemnation across the region, as thousands of Palestinian worshippers remain unable to reach one of Islam’s most revered sanctuaries in occupied Jerusalem. Palestinian officials say the decision to bar access to the site during the sacred period represents a direct attack on religious freedoms and an alarming development in the wider genocidal war being waged against the Palestinian people.

Authorities in Ramallah warned that preventing worshippers from entering the compound undermines the historical and legal status of the holy site, which has long been a focal point of Palestinian religious and cultural life. Palestinian leaders argue that restricting prayer during the most sacred nights of Ramadan deepens a pattern of policies aimed at tightening control over occupied Jerusalem. Officials also expressed concern that such measures create opportunities for settler groups seeking to impose new realities at the compound, threatening the fragile arrangements that have governed the site for decades.

Criticism has also spread beyond Palestinian institutions. Regional voices have warned that shutting the mosque during Ramadan risks fuelling further anger across the Middle East, particularly at a moment when the genocidal war against Palestinians continues to dominate the political landscape. Observers note that limiting access to the compound during a period traditionally marked by nightly prayers and large gatherings is likely to intensify tensions in Jerusalem and across the wider region.

Campaigners and civil society groups have urged international bodies to act to protect freedom of worship and ensure that Palestinians are able to access the holy site without restriction. They argue that the closure reflects a broader effort to reshape realities in occupied Jerusalem while the international community remains largely silent as the genocidal war against Palestinians continues.