The first Friday of Ramadan,The occupation authorities impose severe restrictions on Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa Mosque

Ramallah: The occupation authorities impose restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank going to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan.

On the first Friday of Ramadan, the Israeli authorities imposed severe restrictions on their military checkpoints between the West Bank and Jerusalem, which included returning the majority of Palestinians and preventing them from reaching the city.

The Qalandiya Crossing, north of Jerusalem, and Checkpoint 300, south of the city, witnessed active movement at the entry gates from the West Bank towards Jerusalem.

Dozens of Palestinians who were prevented from entering gathered in front of the checkpoint, waiting to repeat the matter again so that the soldiers would allow them to enter.

Since dawn, dozens of soldiers, police forces, and Israeli border guards have been deployed at the checkpoint.

Palestinian Rania Abu Safiya (48 years old) from the city of Ramallah says that the Israeli authorities prevented her from entering Jerusalem under the pretext that she is under the age allowed to enter.

She added: “We wait for the month of Ramadan every year to enter the city of Jerusalem and pray, but today we were prevented due to the restrictions imposed.”

She denounced: “We came to pray only. Where is the freedom of movement and freedom of worship?” We are prevented from accessing the holy places during the month of worship.”

Abu Safiya accused Israel of “working to empty the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem of Muslims in an attempt to impose a new reality and control it.”

The elderly Sadiq Fell (71 years old) from the town of Huwwara near Nablus, said after he was prevented from entering Jerusalem: “They sent me back under the pretext that I did not have a magnetic card (electronic security card) and a prayer permit.”

He added, disapprovingly: “At this age and being asked for a permit, where are the facilities? This is an Israeli policy aimed at preventing Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque under the pretext of security.”

The man stressed that “Al-Aqsa is a belief and a part of every Muslim’s being,” and continued: “This is the first year that I have been prevented from entering Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan. I feel as if I was slapped.”

At Checkpoint 300 in Bethlehem, in the south of the West Bank, the same situation is repeated. The majority of Palestinians were prevented from entering Jerusalem under various pretexts related to age and lack of a permit.

Sheikh Ahmed Mahameed (65 years old) says: “I was prevented from entering the checkpoint and reaching the city of Jerusalem under the pretext of not having a permit.”

He added: “We elderly people usually enter without a permit. Today, strict security measures are imposed and we are prevented from accessing Al-Aqsa.”

He continued: “It is impossible and a revenge against the Palestinian people. They want to prevent access to Jerusalem and monopolize it.”

On Monday, the Israeli army said, “On Fridays throughout the month of Ramadan, worshipers from the regions of Judea and Samaria (the biblical name for the West Bank) will be allowed to enter Jerusalem, subject to the possession of a valid magnetic (security) permit, and an assessment of the security conditions.”

He added that only male worshipers over the age of 55, and women over the age of 50, as well as children under the age of ten, will be allowed to enter.

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the police have closed all checkpoints around Jerusalem to West Bank residents.