JERUSALEM, Feb 20, 2026: Israeli authorities imposed strict limits on Palestinian worshippers trying to attend the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, allowing only a small fraction of those who traditionally gather for the holy occasion.
Under the new measures, no more than 10,000 Palestinians from the occupied West Bank were permitted entry — a steep reduction from the hundreds of thousands who have attended in past years — and only with special permits issued in advance. Restrictions included age-based criteria, with entry limited to men aged 55 and over, women aged 50 and over, and young children accompanied by a relative.
Hundreds of worshippers were turned away at checkpoints such as Qalandiya near Ramallah, with heavy Israeli security presence around the Old City and the mosque compound cited as part of the enforcement. Jerusalem’s Islamic Waqf Department reported that despite limits on West Bank access, the total number of worshippers at Al-Aqsa reached around 80,000 on Friday — many of whom were residents of East Jerusalem or Arab citizens of Israel.
Palestinian authorities and community leaders criticised the access caps, saying they disrupt long-standing religious customs and deepened tensions around one of Islam’s most sacred sites. News as reported
