Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in occupied East Jerusalem, reopened its doors to Muslim worshippers on Thursday following a 40-day closure imposed by Israeli authorities. The mosque, situated within the Old City, is a central religious and cultural symbol for Palestinians, who view East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. Meanwhile, Israel asserts that the entire city is its undivided capital.
At dawn, hundreds of Palestinian worshippers gathered at the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound as access was restored for the first time in weeks. Witnesses described deeply emotional scenes as the gates opened alongside the call to prayer. Many worshippers entered the compound visibly moved, shedding tears and offering prostrations of gratitude within the mosque’s courtyards.
Large congregations assembled for the Fajr prayer, marking the first occasion since the closure that collective worship was permitted at the site. The shutdown had been enforced since February 28, when Israeli authorities limited entry to only mosque staff and officials from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, compelling other Palestinians to pray in smaller mosques scattered across the city.
In a significant development during the closure, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the compound on April 6, intensifying tensions surrounding the site. Additionally, authorities prohibited Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque this year, a restriction not seen since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem began in 1967.
