JAKARTA - Thousands of Palestinians performed the first Tarawih prayer of the Holy Month of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex, Jerusalem on Tuesday despite plans for restrictions, while Israeli police were seen on duty throughout the area.
Eyewitnesses said the prayer was led by the Imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Yusuf Abu Sneineh, while the congregation filled the space inside and the courtyard of the mosque.
The footage shared online showed Israeli police stationed inside the compound and moving among worshippers during prayers, Anadolu reported (18/2).
Previously, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories Sheikh Mohammed Hussein announced that Wednesday would mark the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.
Last week, a Muslim scholar and former grand mufti of Jerusalem said Israeli authorities plan to restrict Muslim access to the Al Aqsa Mosque for prayers during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem Sheikh Ekrima Sabri expressed regret over the Israeli government's plan to restrict access to the third holiest mosque for Muslims during Ramadan.
Israel's ill intentions were evident when Major General Avshalom Peled was appointed as the new police commander in occupied East Jerusalem in the first week of January, a move seen as an attempt to advance the plans of right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is the point of conflict.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote, "It seems that Ben-Gvir is doing everything he can to fan the flames."
"Muslims welcome Ramadan with optimism, following the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, who used to welcome this month at the end of Sha'ban," Sheikh Sabri said.
"However, regarding Jerusalem, we regret the harsh measures that will be imposed by the occupation authorities against Muslims who come to the Al-Aqsa Mosque," he said.
"The Israeli authorities have banned dozens of young people from entering the mosque and announced that they will not ease restrictions during Ramadan for worshippers coming from the occupied West Bank," he said.
"This means there will be stricter restrictions," said Sabri.
"The number of worshipers at Al-Aqsa will be lower than in previous years. This is contrary to freedom of worship and interferes with the implementation of the Muslim fasting," he added.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank usually travel to occupied East Jerusalem during Ramadan to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
However, since the war began on October 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have tightened restrictions at military checkpoints, limiting West Bank residents' access to Jerusalem.
Over the past two years, only a small number of people have received permits issued by the Israeli military, which Palestinians say are difficult to obtain. Authorities have not announced any special arrangements for this year's Ramadan.
In recent days, Israeli authorities have also issued temporary orders against hundreds of Palestinians in East Jerusalem - most of them young people - prohibiting them from entering Al-Aqsa during Ramadan. Some of the orders are valid for up to six months.
The steps come as Israel's right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, faces criticism from Palestinian officials over what they describe as changes to the long-standing "status quo" at the site.
However, the local police unilaterally allowed Israeli extremists to enter the mosque complex by force since 2003, despite repeated demands from the Islamic Waqf Department to stop the attacks.
"There is no doubt that the right-wing government aims to implement its aggressive plan regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque," said Sabri.
"For years, they have demanded public access, open prayer, the use of ritual trumpets, and prostration. Ambitions that were once hidden have now become public," he said.
"We have long warned that Israel is trying to impose sovereignty on the site and reduce the authority of Islamic Waqf," Sabri explained.
Separately, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said Israeli restrictions across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, had increased ahead of Ramadan, affecting access to places of worship.
According to figures cited by the Jerusalem Provincial Government, more than 250 orders prohibiting Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa have been issued since the beginning of 2026.
On Monday evening, Israeli police detained Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abbasi, the imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, before releasing him but imposing a ban on him from entering the mosque for a week which could be extended, the provincial government said.
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