Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem has been reopened to Muslim worshippers on Thursday after a 40-day closure imposed by Israel amid escalating tensions linked to joint US-Israeli military actions against Iran.
According to reports from the ground, the المسجد located within the Old City was reopened at dawn, allowing hundreds of Palestinian Muslims to enter the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound.
As the gates opened with the call to morning prayers, large numbers of worshippers gathered at the site, with many expressing deep emotion, some seen in tears and offering prayers of gratitude in the المسجد’s courtyards. Hundreds participated in the dawn prayer, marking the first congregational نماز held there since the closure.
During the shutdown period, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the compound on April 6 while access remained restricted.
Israel had closed the mosque on February 28, coinciding with its military actions against Iran. During this time, only mosque staff and officials from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf were permitted to pray inside, while other Palestinians were forced to worship at smaller mosques across the city.
Authorities also prevented Eid al-Fitr prayers from being held at the site this year, marking the first such restriction since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.
In addition, Israeli authorities had also shut down the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during the same period.
Although a state of emergency had been extended until mid-April, officials had not confirmed whether the mosque would remain closed for the entire duration.
