Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem has reopened to worshippers after remaining closed for approximately 40 days, according to international media reports. The reopening saw a strong emotional response as hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the holy site to perform the dawn prayer in congregation.
The mosque, located within the Old City of Jerusalem, was reopened at daybreak. Worshippers began arriving shortly after the call to prayer, filling the courtyards and prayer areas. Many attendees were seen expressing deep relief and gratitude, with some visibly emotional as they prostrated in thanks following weeks of restricted access.
According to reports, the closure had been imposed in connection with heightened regional tensions and military developments involving Israel and Iran. During this period, access to the mosque was heavily restricted, with only mosque staff and officials from the Islamic Waqf permitted to enter and perform limited duties.
Local sources indicate that Palestinian worshippers were barred from entering the compound throughout the closure, forcing many to pray in nearby smaller mosques across the city instead. The restrictions also led to the cancellation of Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque this year—reportedly the first such ban since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.
In a broader context of restrictions in the holy city, reports also suggested that access to other significant religious sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, was temporarily limited during the same period.
