In the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City, approximately 90,000 Palestinians gathered for the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israeli forces were on high alert, ensuring security as a significant number of worshippers traveled from the West Bank. This access was facilitated by Israel allowing men over 55 and women over 50 from the occupied territory to partake in the prayers. Recent tensions in the West Bank, due to Israeli operations against militants, had escalated, although the atmosphere in Jerusalem remained calm on this particular day.
However, Palestinian officials reported that eight mosques around Nablus in the northern West Bank were breached by Israeli soldiers. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on social media alleging that Israeli forces had caused extensive fire damage to the Al-Nasr mosque, once a Byzantine church, in Nablus. The military, when questioned, stated they were unaware of any fire set by soldiers.
For many Palestinians, the opportunity to enter Jerusalem was their first since the previous Ramadan, as access had been restricted due to the Israel-Hamas conflict that erupted in October 2023. This conflict had resulted in significant barriers for Palestinians crossing from the West Bank into Jerusalem or visiting Israel. Moreover, cuts to USAID under the Trump administration hindered aid efforts in Gaza. Although a ceasefire had been tentatively in place since mid-January, its continuity remains uncertain. Israel has restricted essential supplies into Gaza since Sunday, conditioning their resumption on Hamas’s acceptance of revised terms.
In the Gaza Strip, large gatherings for Friday prayers took place amid the ruins of the Imam Shafi’i Mosque in Gaza City, substantially damaged during Israeli military actions. Ramadan is marked by fasting from sunrise to sunset, an act of piety and empathy towards those who are less fortunate. On the previous evening, residents adorned the devastated surroundings with Ramadan lights and arranged long communal tables for iftar, the meal ending the daily fast, as part of efforts by aid organizations.
At the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one worshipper, Nafez Abu Saker, recounted his lengthy journey from Aqraba in the northern West Bank, taking three hours to cover the 45 kilometers to Jerusalem through multiple checkpoints. Another visitor, Ezat Abu Laqia, described the spiritual significance and reward of worship at this revered site. The Islamic Trust overseeing the mosque complex reported a turnout of 90,000 for the prayers, while Israeli police had a robust security presence in the area.
The compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is within a frequently contested part of Jerusalem’s Old City. This area was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Mideast War, and while Israel has annexed it, Palestinians aim to include it in a future independent state. Many Palestinians made their way to the Qalandia checkpoint to join the prayers, but some were turned away due to either lacking permits or the checkpoint’s closure. Although Israel had authorized the entry of 10,000 from the West Bank, precise figures on those who succeeded in getting through were not disclosed.
The ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, although fragile, has led to the exchange of hostages and detainees. The initial phase witnessed the release of 25 Israeli hostages from Gaza, accompanied by the return of eight deceased individuals, in exchange for Israel freeing almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Talks of a further agreement are currently in limbo, as Israel is reluctant to engage in deeper negotiations until a partial release of remaining hostages is secured by Hamas. This stance has drawn criticism for potentially worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. A delegation from Hamas traveled to Cairo to discuss the stalled agreement.
The conflict and Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in significant casualties, with over 48,000 Palestinians reported dead, most of whom are civilians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The confrontation originated from Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in late October 2023, which led to substantial fatalities and hostage-taking. While many hostages have been freed, a number remain in captivity or are presumed dead. Hamas has released footage of Israeli captive Matan Angrest, which conveyed hopelessness among hostages, with Angrest appealing to Donald Trump for intervention based on his influence over the Israeli government. His family expressed distress over the video, fearing for his well-being.
