Al-Aqsa Mosque and Church of the Holy Sepulcher remain closed by Zionist occupation
The Zionist occupation authorities have continued to close Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem for the 37th consecutive day, alleging security concerns amid the ongoing war with Iran.
For only the ninth time since 1967, Al-Aqsa was closed last Friday, leaving its courtyards, mosques, and halls empty except for a few staff from the Islamic Waqf. This marks the fifth consecutive Friday of closure.
In the streets of Jerusalem, Palestinians gathered in roads and alleys to perform prayers at the closest accessible points amid restrictions and harassment, the WAFA news agency reported.
The occupation forces were heavily deployed, particularly near the Old City walls and gates, preventing prayers near the walls and dispersing worshippers.
This comes as extremist groups advocating for the so-called “Third Temple” are exploiting the Passover period, which began on April 2 and continues until April 9, to incite settlers to enter Al-Aqsa and call for “sacrificial rituals” inside the mosque.
Official and religious authorities have warned that the continued closure constitutes a severe violation of freedom of worship and a dangerous escalation that requires urgent international intervention.
