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Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, marking the first Jumu’ah prayer after more than 40 days of Israeli-imposed closure that barred worshippers from one of Islam’s holiest sanctuaries.
Men, women, children, and the elderly flooded the courtyards of Al-Aqsa, reclaiming their right to worship after weeks of enforced absence. The emotional return came after Israeli authorities announced the reopening of both Al-Aqsa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre earlier in the week, ending one of the longest and most restrictive shutdowns of Jerusalem’s sacred sites in recent years.
The closure, which began on 28 February, prevented Palestinians from performing daily prayers and denied them access to five consecutive Friday congregations throughout March and early April. Worshippers were also barred from observing Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa—an unprecedented move since the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.
For many Palestinians, the reopening marked not only a return to prayer but a symbolic act of steadfastness in the face of ongoing restrictions.
Israeli authorities justified the closure as a “security measure” amid escalating regional tensions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran. However, Palestinians and observers widely view the move as part of a broader pattern of limiting Muslim access to their holy sites and altering the historic and legal status quo of Jerusalem.
Despite these constraints, Palestinians continue to assert their religious and national rights, with mass turnout at Al-Aqsa serving as a clear message of defiance against occupation policies.
Türkiye has strongly condemned the closure of Al-Aqsa and the denial of worship rights, describing the measures as unacceptable provocations and violations of international law. Turkish officials have repeatedly stressed the need to preserve the sanctity and historical status of Jerusalem’s holy sites.
The reopening comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, though major disputes—including tensions over Lebanon, nuclear activities, and control of the Strait of Hormuz—remain unresolved.
As Palestinians return to Al-Aqsa, the scenes of unity and devotion underscore a broader struggle: the ongoing fight to protect their sacred spaces, identity, and fundamental rights under occupation. (ILKHA)
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