OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
In an unprecedented scene not witnessed for decades, Palestinians welcomed Eid al-Fitr this year with a silence that weighed heavily on their hearts, as the sound of takbir was absent from Al-Aqsa Mosque, a place that has long pulsed with life during such occasions.
This absence was not ordinary; it came as a result of strict measures that deprived thousands of worshipers from performing the Eid prayer in the courtyards of Muslims’ first qibla.
The closure left a deep mark on Palestinians, who saw the shutting of Al-Aqsa during one of the most sacred days of worship as an escalation that strikes at the core of their religious and human rights, raising serious questions about the future of Jerusalem.
Continuous closure and comprehensive ban
According to Jerusalem sources, the occupation authorities continued to close Al-Aqsa Mosque for long stretches during Ramadan, including the last ten nights, before also preventing Eid prayers in its courtyards.
This measure deprived thousands of Palestinians of practicing their rituals at the holiest times.
The closure began on February 28, encompassing Al-Aqsa and the Old City, under the pretext of a state of emergency tied to regional developments, a move Jerusalemites saw as an attempt to cement a new reality on the ground.
Prayers at the gates … persistence despite restrictions
Despite the closure, Palestinians did not abandon their rituals. Circulating footage showed worshipers performing isha and taraweeh prayers near the Mosque’s gates, especially at Bab al-Asbat, in a clear expression of attachment to Al-Aqsa no matter the restrictions.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces tried to disperse worshipers around the Mosque and even removed one of the guards, a step Jerusalemites viewed as further escalation targeting those who remain steadfast and tightening the grip on any religious presence there.
Calls to pray at the nearest point
With Eid prayers banned inside Al-Aqsa, the Mosque’s preacher called on Jerusalemites, Palestinians inside the Green Line, and those in the West Bank to head toward the Mosque’s vicinity and pray at the closest possible point, reaffirming their bond with the site and refusal to submit to closure.
The closure decision sparked a wave of anger on social media, where activists described it as a dangerous escalation targeting Islamic sanctities and violating freedom of worship.
Those who remain stationed at Al-Aqsa said this was “the harshest Ramadan and Eid” they had ever experienced, especially with the Mosque’s courtyards empty of worshippers, an unfamiliar scene that left profound psychological and spiritual impact.
Many also questioned the absence of effective international action, arguing that mere condemnations change nothing and may even pave the way for harsher measures.
Not a passing measure
Researcher Fakhri Abu Diab, a specialist in Jerusalem affairs, stressed that the closure of Al-Aqsa and the banning of Eid prayers cannot be seen as a temporary or purely security-related step, but rather part of a cumulative policy aimed at imposing new realities on the ground.
He told the Palestinian Information Center that the prolonged closures, especially during sensitive religious seasons, clearly signal attempts to reduce Palestinian presence inside the Mosque and gradually weaken popular attachment to it.
He added that the most dangerous aspect of these measures is testing reactions, both popular and official, warning that the absence of practical steps to halt such policies may encourage their repetition in the future.