The closure of Al Aqsa Mosque has entered its nineteenth day, with occupation authorities continuing to bar access to worshippers under the guise of security amid the ongoing genocidal war. Palestinian residents report that restrictions have extended beyond the mosque itself, including surrounding areas such as the Rashidiya School courtyard, leading activists to warn of a coordinated effort to limit religious practice and public presence in the city.

Witnesses describe an escalation in measures by occupation forces, including tightened checkpoints and dispersal of gatherings, yet Palestinians have maintained nightly prayers at the mosque gates for over a week. This persistence underscores rising tensions in Jerusalem and the community’s determination to uphold religious observances despite increasingly severe constraints.

Further disruptions were reported on Tuesday evening, when Taraweeh prayers were prevented in several neighbourhoods across the city. Heavy deployments at key access points such as Bab al-Amud and Bab al-Sahira forced worshippers to disperse. Rights advocates and pro-Palestine observers describe these actions as part of a wider strategy to suppress religious gatherings and curtail Palestinian presence during an especially significant period.