Particle.news
Download on the App Store
8 ARTICLES
·
14h ago

Israel Shuts Al‑Aqsa for Eid for First Time Since 1967 Under Wartime Rules

Officials cite Iranian missile threats alongside a nationwide 50‑person cap on gatherings.

Image
Israeli authorities have closed access to Jerusalem's main holy sites for security reasons during the war with Iran
Muslim worshippers prayed at the walls of Jerusalem's Old City to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday as access is shut for the Al-Aqsa Mosque
An Israeli police vehicle moves past Muslim worshippers gathering outside the Jerusalem old city walls on March 20. AFP

Overview

  • Israeli police blocked access to Al‑Aqsa and parts of Jerusalem’s Old City on Eid, forcing hundreds to pray outside near Herod’s Gate under heavy security.
  • Police said street prayers were permitted but officers enforced capacity limits when crowds approached security perimeters, while witnesses reported kicks, slaps and tear gas.
  • The closure sharply reduced the usual Eid turnout, replacing typical crowds of around 100,000 with only a few hundred worshippers outside the walls.
  • The shutdown also covered the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall under the same wartime directives tied to the Iran conflict.
  • Eight Muslim‑majority governments condemned the move as a breach of international law, while Palestinian officials and clerics warned the closures erode the Al‑Aqsa status quo.