Israel is planning to restrict access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Palestinians freed under the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement during the holy month of Ramadan, according to reports from Israeli media on Sunday.
The Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that police will not allow Palestinians released in recent weeks to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in occupied East Jerusalem, during Ramadan, which is set to begin next week.
According to KAN, Israel plans to deploy 3,000 police officers daily at checkpoints leading to East Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
Additionally, only 10,000 permits will be granted to Palestinians from the West Bank to enter the site during the fasting month. The permits will be limited to men over 55 and women over 50.
Every year, Palestinians face restrictions on accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, especially over military escalations in the occupied West Bank.
The Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal, which came into effect last month, led to the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for several Israeli captives.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third holiest site for Muslims. The area is also significant for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and later annexed the city in 1980, a move that has never been recognised by the international community.
In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, as illegal, calling for the evacuation of all Israeli settlements in the region.
