Israeli forces have sealed off Palestinian cities across the occupied West Bank and forcibly cleared worshippers from Al-Aqsa Mosque, hours after launching pre-dawn airstrikes on Iranian targets.

Israeli authorities closed military checkpoints, blocked roads, and shut down key access points, including Jericho’s King Hussein Bridge and Bethlehem’s entrances, using iron gates and dirt mounds.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, Israeli forces emptied and sealed Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing Muslim worshippers from attending Friday prayers.

The United Nations and human rights groups have condemned the lockdown and mosque closure, warning of violations of Palestinians’ rights to worship and freedom of movement.

The UN General Assembly recently passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, urging nations to pressure Israel

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