Israel Reopens Al-Aqsa Mosque After 40-Day Closure in East Jerusalem

After a 40-day closure imposed by Israel, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound reopened to Palestinian worshippers.

“The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem has reopened to Palestinian worshippers after a 40-day closure by Israel”

Al Jazeera

Approximately 3,000 worshippers performed the dawn prayer, marking the first congregational worship since the closure began.

Al Jazeera

The reopening came amid tightened Israeli security measures, with hundreds of police officers deployed in the Old City.

Emotional scenes unfolded as hundreds of Palestinians flocked to the site, with many breaking into tears.

The closure had prevented Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa for the first time since Israel's occupation in 1967.

The reopening also extended to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall.

Just hours after the reopening, Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under police protection.

Israeli authorities extended the daily windows for settler incursions by an additional 30 minutes.

Al-Jazeera Net

The Chief Justice of Palestine condemned the storming as a flagrant violation of the existing and historical status of the Noble Sanctuary.

Israeli police were reported to have assaulted some worshippers at the gates.

The Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces denied entry to activist Munta Amara and detained another man.

Israeli raids continued across the occupied West Bank as the holy sites reopened.

“Believers rejoice as Jerusalem's holy sites re-open Just before 5 am at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a Muslim worshipper prayed in tears”

Al-Monitor

Israeli forces detained a woman and assaulted a man during an early raid in Nablus.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Israeli forces fatally shot 28-year-old Alaa Khaled Mohammed Sbeih.

Six young men were detained in a raid on Tayasir.

Israeli troops stormed several homes in Yabad, destroying the contents of three houses.

The UN says more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since October 2023.