Because the sermon concerning the Muslim holy month of Ramadan sounded over the audio system from Al Aqsa Mosque, 13-year-old Yousef al-Sideeq sat on a bench outdoors the compound’s gates.
“Most Fridays they forestall me from getting in, for no cause,” the younger Jerusalem resident mentioned, referring to the Israeli police.
Each Friday, Yousef visits Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis to hope at Al Aqsa, the third holiest website for Muslims and a part of the compound sacred to Jewish folks, who name it the Temple Mount. However for the reason that Hamas-led Oct. 7 assaults and Israel’s ensuing bombardment of Gaza, closely armed Israeli police forces who guard lots of the Outdated Metropolis’s gates have stopped him from getting into the compound, he mentioned.
He has managed to get in solely twice.
Muslim entry to the mosque has lengthy been some extent of rivalry as Israel has exerted tighter management lately over the compound, one in all many restrictions Palestinians dwelling below a long time of Israeli occupation have needed to endure.
As Ramadan begins, many additionally worry what, if any, extra constraints Israel could impose on the spiritual website, which may draw 200,000 folks in someday from not simply Jerusalem however the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution and Israel as an entire.
The Israeli police mentioned that individuals have been “getting into after enhanced safety checks which are carried out as a result of present actuality, alongside efforts to forestall any disturbances.” However they didn’t reply particular questions on whether or not there was a coverage stopping sure worshipers, particularly younger males, from getting into the mosque on Friday.
They mentioned they have been “sustaining a steadiness between the liberty of worship and the crucial of guaranteeing safety.”
Late on Sunday, Palestinian and Israeli information media reported that cops prevented many Palestinians from getting into Al Aqsa to carry out prayers for the beginning of Ramadan. Each media cited a video that confirmed officers with batons chasing and beating some Palestinians.
Israel has mentioned there was no change to the established order, which permits solely Muslims to worship on the compound. The positioning is revered by Jews as the situation of two historic temples, and by Muslims because the Noble Sanctuary, the compound containing Al Aqsa Mosque and different essential Islamic prayer areas. The compound contains the Dome of the Rock, a gold-domed prayer corridor.
Israel captured East Jerusalem, together with the Outdated Metropolis and the Aqsa compound, from Jordan in 1967 and later annexed it. A lot of the world considers it occupied territory and doesn’t acknowledge Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem.
Many Palestinians say their entry to Al Aqsa compound has turn out to be more and more restricted in favor of Jews, who take into account the Temple Mount probably the most sacred place in Judaism.
Incidents on the compound have at instances been the spark for broader conflicts. The second intifada, or Palestinian rebellion, was set off in 2000 when Ariel Sharon, who later grew to become Israel’s prime minister, visited Al Aqsa surrounded by lots of of cops. Confrontations on the compound in Could 2021 contributed to the outbreak of an 11-day warfare between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas, the Palestinian armed group which has been answerable for Gaza for years, referred to as its Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel Al Aqsa Flood, saying it was partly a response to “Judaization plans” on the mosque.
The assault killed about 1,200 folks, and a few 200 folks have been taken hostage, in response to the Israeli authorities. Israel’s assault on Gaza in its warfare towards Hamas has killed greater than 30,000 Palestinians, in response to Gazan well being officers.
Lately, Jewish worshipers have prayed contained in the Aqsa compound. Probably the most excessive search to construct a 3rd Jewish temple on the positioning of the Dome of the Rock.
A number of the most provocative episodes have been raids into the Aqsa compound by baton-wielding police forces firing tear fuel and sponge-tipped bullets who’ve clashed with Palestinians throwing stones and setting off fireworks.
“Al Aqsa Flood got here as a response to the settlers’ violations towards Al Aqsa,” mentioned Walid Kilani, a Hamas spokesman in Lebanon, referring to Jewish worshipers.
Israeli cops “stormed the mosque and insulted the Muslim prayers there,” he added. “We needed to retaliate, as Al Aqsa is our holy website and is talked about within the Quran.”
Within the preliminary weeks of the warfare, solely Muslims ages 60 and older have been allowed in, mentioned Mohammad al-Ashhab, a spokesman for the Waqf — an Islamic belief that administers the mosque and that’s financed and overseen by Jordan.
Attendance at Friday Prayer, a Muslim holy day, dropped to only 1,000 from 50,000, he mentioned.
Although the scenario has improved since then, he mentioned, many Muslims are nonetheless prevented from attending.
Many Palestinians worry for the way forward for Al Aqsa, particularly whereas Israel’s most right-wing authorities ever is in energy.
Final week, the federal government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned it had determined towards placing new restrictions on Al Aqsa throughout Ramadan and would permit an analogous variety of worshipers as in earlier years.
Along with longstanding Israeli restrictions on Muslims coming from the occupied West Financial institution, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right nationwide safety minister, had referred to as on the federal government to impose limits this yr on Palestinian residents of Israel.
Nonetheless, the ambiguous language of the Israeli authorities’s choice has some involved. Human rights teams worry that freedom of worship might be curtailed below the guise of safety and security.
“Netanyahu’s assertion doesn’t really assure full freedom of entry for Muslims to Al Aqsa, however somewhat circumstances it on safety and security wants,” Ir Amim, an Israeli rights group that focuses on Jerusalem, mentioned in a press release following the choice. “This in flip could result in a choice to in the end apply collective entry restrictions throughout Ramadan.”
“Our freedom of worship has gone backwards,” Mr. al-Ashhab mentioned.
To achieve Al Aqsa Mosque compound, Muslim worshipers on Friday needed to get by means of not less than three layers of police barricades, the place the authorities prevented folks from getting into, checked IDs or searched baggage. Many arrived with prayer rugs in hand.
AbdulAziz Sbeitan, 30, was speeding by means of a Muslim cemetery on the sting of the Outdated Metropolis, having been turned away from Lion’s Gate, one in all seven entrances to the historic district. He was on the cellphone with mates who have been making an attempt to enter from different gates.
The Jerusalem native has all the time attended Friday Prayer at Al Aqsa, however since Oct. 7 he hasn’t been in a position to get in as soon as. Every Friday he tries a number of gates.
Generally he accompanies an older lady or younger women in an effort to get by means of, however every time the police have pushed him again, he mentioned.
“It’s a home of God and the home of our ancestors,” Mr. Sbeitan mentioned as he walked shortly towards Herod’s Gate. “As Muslims, it is crucial; Al Aqsa is for Muslims.”
As he arrived at Herod’s Gate, he noticed many younger males being turned away, in some circumstances violently shoved by the police.
Mr. Sbeitan cursed below his breath as he lit a cigarette, watching. Round him different younger males provided recommendation and, in some circumstances, discouragement.
“Come, let’s attempt one other gate,” one mentioned to his pal.
“Guys, we tried all of the gates, they gained’t allow you to in,” one other man advised them. “They allow us to in as soon as, after which as soon as we have been contained in the gate they pushed us again out.”
He mentioned the Israeli police advised him that younger males weren’t allowed to enter. Like many others, the person, a 28-year-old Jerusalemite, didn’t need to give his title for worry of retribution by the police.
It wasn’t simply younger single males being barred. Fathers with little kids and a few girls have been turned away as properly.
“It’s all in response to their whims,” one lady mentioned as she walked away after being prevented from getting into by means of Lion’s Gate.
As the decision to prayer sounded inside Al Aqsa, Yousef, the 13-year-old, joined an impromptu gathering of dozens of younger males who couldn’t get in.
In previous weeks these prevented from praying inside Al Aqsa would collect within the streets and conduct their very own sermon and prayer. However on Friday it appeared even more durable because the Israeli police shoved them away from Lion’s Gate and farther outdoors the partitions of the Outdated Metropolis.
Undeterred, one man started the decision to prayer, at instances barely audible over the sound of sirens and horns alongside the road, buses trundling previous and the police shouting.
Quickly, one other man stepped on high of a sidewalk stone barrier and commenced to offer an informal sermon.
“Will we not liberate Palestine?” mentioned the person, who gave his title solely as Yousef, fearing retribution regardless of the chance he had already taken in main a sermon.
As he completed, extra closely armed cops piled out of two automobiles.
The person appeared unfazed. He then led dozens — principally youngsters and males of their 20s and 30s — in prayer on a crowded Jerusalem sidewalk surrounded by two church buildings and the Tomb of the Virgin. The gold Dome of the Rock, the middle of the Aqsa compound, was barely seen over the Outdated Metropolis partitions.
Abu Bakr Bashir contributed reporting from London.
