Restrictions on Worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque
On October 18, 2024, the Israeli occupation imposed significant restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing many worshippers from attending Friday prayers. As a result, hundreds were forced to pray in the streets and alleys of Jerusalem. The Wadi Hilweh Human Rights Information Center reported that prayers took place in several areas near the mosque, including Bab al-Sahira, after worshippers were blocked from entering the Old City.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that Israeli forces arrested numerous local residents, particularly young people, and conducted ID checks along with searches before prohibiting entry to the mosque. The Islamic Endowments Department estimated that around 40,000 worshippers managed to perform their prayers at Al-Aqsa, where they also held funeral prayers in absentia for fallen martyrs.
The restrictions are part of a broader pattern where thousands from the West Bank are denied access to Jerusalem for prayers, requiring special permits to navigate military checkpoints surrounding the city.
Tensions in Silwan Neighborhood
In addition to the restrictions at Al-Aqsa, the Israeli forces also prevented Friday prayers from being held at a sit-in tent in the Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, located south of the mosque. This tent was established in opposition to the demolition and displacement policies enacted by the Israeli authorities, aimed at seizing land for colonial projects. The official Palestinian news agency reported that Israeli forces surrounded the tent and prevented a press conference intended to address the forced displacement of local residents.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center noted a heavy Israeli presence around the sit-in tent, which coincided with calls from neighborhood residents to hold prayers there. Authorities reportedly searched young men and restricted media access to the area, further escalating tensions in the region.
