Access to the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque has remained blocked for the eighteenth consecutive day, with worshippers prevented from entering and daily prayers suspended inside one of Islam’s most revered sanctuaries. The continuing closure, imposed by Israeli authorities in occupied Jerusalem, has deepened concern among residents and observers who say restrictions around the site have intensified during the ongoing genocidal war.

Reports from local journalists indicate that the shutdown is expected to remain in place until the end of Eid al-Fitr. At the same time, more than 25 employees from the Islamic Waqf administration responsible for overseeing the mosque compound have reportedly been barred from entering during their shifts. Sources connected to the administration said attempts to allow even a single additional staff member into the site were refused, while police allegedly warned that expanding the presence of Waqf staff could lead to further settler incursions.

Researchers and activists monitoring developments around the compound say the prolonged closure appears to form part of a broader policy that could alter long-standing arrangements governing the site. Analyst Ziyad Ibhais noted that statements by groups linked to the so-called Temple movement suggest coordination with Israeli police aimed at keeping the mosque closed until late March. Observers warn that partial reopening may be timed ahead of Passover, amid increased preparations by far-right groups seeking to carry out ritual practices inside the compound.