Jerusalem Reopens the Al-Aqsa Mosque After 12-Day Lockdown
Muslims walk next to the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Sunday, March 10, 2024. Officials in Saudi Arabia have declared the start of the fasting month of Ramadan after sighting the crescent moon Sunday night. The announcement marks the beginning of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. Photo: AA
June 25, 2025 Hour: 1:09 pm
After nearly two weeks of sweeping restrictions justified by the Iran-Israel conflict, the Governorate of Jerusalem has officially lifted the ban on Palestinian worshippers entering key religious sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The announcement came as Adeeb Jawad Joudeh Alhusseini, Custodian of the Keys of the Holy Sepulchre, declared an end to the “state of maximum alert,” allowing pilgrims and visitors to return to one of Christianity’s holiest shrines.
Despite the easing of restrictions, Palestinian leaders and religious authorities remain wary. Many fear that the security pretext was used to impose lasting changes to the status quo, particularly at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli settlers have continued to enter the eastern section known as Bab al-Rahma, performing Jewish rituals and even raising Israeli flags—actions that violate long-standing international agreements.
The status quo, a delicate arrangement governing access and worship rights at Jerusalem’s holy sites, prohibits non-Muslim prayer within the Al-Aqsa compound. However, these protocols have been increasingly undermined by settler incursions, often under the protection of Israeli police.
On June 13, Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound at dawn, forcibly removing worshippers and sealing the gates. Local sources said it was the first such closure since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs condemned the raid and the simultaneous closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, calling on international bodies to intervene.
During the same period, Israel imposed a total closure of the West Bank, sealing off 898 checkpoints and barriers, according to the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlements. The group’s head, Mu’ayyad Shaaban, stated that the lockdown severely restricted access to medical care and basic services, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The lifting of restrictions follows the Iran-Israel ceasefire, which prompted Israel’s Home Front Command to end nationwide emergency measures, including the reopening of schools, workplaces, and religious sites.
Still, Palestinian officials warn that the unequal application of access rights—with settlers allowed entry while Palestinians are barred—signals a dangerous erosion of religious freedom and sovereignty in occupied East Jerusalem.
Author: OSG
Source: WAFA
