Al-Aqsa Mosque Reopens in Jerusalem After 40-Day Israeli Closure

SRINAGAR: The Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem has reopened to Muslim worshippers following a 40-day closure imposed by Israel. The mosque, a significant holy site for Muslims, was shut down amid Israeli military actions targeting Iran.

Information was available with The Chenab Times that the reopening occurred at dawn on Thursday, allowing hundreds of Palestinian Muslims to enter the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound. Many worshippers were observed in tears, offering prayers of gratitude within the mosque’s courtyards. This marks the first congregational worship at the site since its closure began on February 28.

During the extended closure, only mosque staff and officials from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf were permitted to pray inside. The broader Palestinian community was consequently unable to perform their regular prayers at the mosque, being compelled to seek out smaller mosques across the city.

The closure also affected significant religious observances. For the first time since the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Eid-ul-Fitr prayers were barred at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This unprecedented restriction added to the significant disruption of religious life for local Muslims.

In parallel with the restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli authorities also closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a paramount site for Christianity. These measures were part of broader security arrangements implemented by Israel.

The Israeli government had previously extended a state of emergency until mid-April, though it had not specified whether the restrictions on the mosque would persist for the entire duration of this extended period. The exact timeline for the full return to normal access remained uncertain during the period of the closure.

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