Gaza Genocide20 February, 20261 min read
Israel Bars Most West Bank Palestinians, Allows Tens of Thousands to Pray at Al-Aqsa Under Heavy Occupation Restrictions
Israel allowed only 10,000 West Bank Palestinians to enter Al‑Aqsa compound. About 80,000 Palestinians attended the first Friday Ramadan prayers at Al‑Aqsa.
22 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Israel Marks Oct. 7 Anniversary With Strikes on Gaza, Netanyahu Faces Election After Nova Tribute →
Al‑Aqsa access restrictions
Israel sharply limited access for West Bank Palestinians to Jerusalem's Al‑Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan. It imposed a permit regime and capped entry from the occupied West Bank at 10,000 people.
“Israel sharply limited access to the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, allowing no more than 10,000 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank into Jerusalem and only with permits.”
Large numbers of police and troops were deployed. Thousands were turned back at checkpoints such as Qalandiya, and only a small fraction had crossed by morning.
Al‑Aqsa compound security
Israeli forces and police enforced tight security inside and around the compound. Senior imams and Al‑Aqsa personnel were removed and at least one imam detained. Far‑right minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and senior police entered the site.
Medics and volunteer crews were barred or briefly detained. Authorities introduced restrictive documentation and screening measures.
West Bank repression context
The Ramadan access restrictions sit against a backdrop of escalating West Bank repression documented by rights groups and the UN. UN OCHA and multiple outlets report more than 1,100 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since 2023 and over 10,000 forcibly displaced. Palestinians and critics say Israel’s approval of a plan to designate large West Bank areas as 'state property' amounts to de facto annexation.
“The UN OCHA cites more than 1,100 Palestinian deaths and over 10,000 people displaced since 2023...”
Media coverage of Gaza
Some outlets explicitly characterise Israel’s campaign in Gaza with the strongest terms; The New Arab calls it 'Gaza genocide'.
Other outlets report the very high Palestinian death toll and describe international accusations of ethnic cleansing and large-scale civilian suffering, citing Gaza’s Health Ministry figures and UN statements in mainstream pieces.
Humanitarian and political fallout
The immediate humanitarian and political fallout is stark: aid pledges announced by the U.S. administration are described as a small fraction of what's needed to rebuild Gaza. Rights groups warn the Al-Aqsa access measures and West Bank policy changes weaken Palestinian ties to East Jerusalem and compound civilian suffering. Observers say the restrictions on worship, continued settler attacks, detentions of medics and the de facto annexation plan deepen displacement and isolation of Palestinians.
“That $7 billion is a small share of the roughly $70 billion estimated to rebuild Gaza; details on how the pledged funds would be disbursed remain unclear and require US congressional approval.”