RAMALLAH, Palestine

Israel has imposed strict restrictions on Palestinians from the occupied West Bank trying to reach Jerusalem for prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the second Friday of Ramadan.

An Anadolu correspondent in the West Bank reported that the Israeli military reinforced its presence at the checkpoints leading to Jerusalem, scrutinizing Palestinian IDs and denying entry to some under the pretext of lacking special permits.

The soldiers prevented Palestinians from the northern West Bank governorates of Jenin and Tulkarem from entering Jerusalem, despite the fact that they had obtained permits, the correspondent added.

This restriction comes amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Jenin and Tulkarem since Jan. 21, 2025, which has caused extensive destruction to homes and infrastructure. The offensive has led to the displacement of around 40,000 Palestinians, the arrest of some 400, and the killing of about 50, according to Palestinian sources.

Daily struggle for access to Al-Aqsa

Aisha Nazzal, a Palestinian woman from the town of Qabatiya south of Jenin, stated that the Israeli army prevented her from reaching Jerusalem despite having a special permit.

She told Anadolu: "Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa are everything to us Palestinians, and freedom of worship is a right, but the occupation disregards everything."

Taysir Balawi, a resident of Jenin, mentioned that the Israeli authorities blocked him from accessing Jerusalem without any specific reason, only because he was from Jenin.

He explained: "I obtained a special permit through the Israeli coordinator's platform, as instructed, and there were no security objections, but when the soldiers saw my address as Jenin, they refused to let me in."

Balawi made several attempts to pass through Israeli checkpoints, but each time, soldiers stopped him.

"The Israeli military continues its offensive in Jenin, and if there was something related to me, they would have arrested me, but this is just pressure on people,” he added.

Long lines were seen at the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem and Checkpoint 300 south of the city as Palestinians from the West Bank tried to make their way toward Jerusalem.

On March 6, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved stricter restrictions on Palestinian worshippers’ access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Fridays during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Under the new restrictions, only men over the age of 55, women over 50, and children under 12 will be permitted to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.

However, access will be contingent upon obtaining a prior security clearance and undergoing thorough security checks at designated checkpoints.

The decision coincides with ongoing daily incursions by hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month alongside increasing restrictions on Palestinians traveling from the West Bank.

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have imposed strict measures limiting Palestinians’ access from the West Bank to East Jerusalem.

Palestinians consider these restrictions as part of Israel’s broader efforts to Judaize East Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.