Israel Imposes Total Lockdown on Al-Aqsa Mosque and Church of the Holy Sepulchre Amid Escalation
For Six Consecutive Days, Israeli Forces Enforce Unprecedented Closure of Jerusalem’s Holy Sites and Intensify Military Raids Across Occupied East Jerusalem.
WatanIsraeli occupation forces have maintained a total blockade on both Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the sixth consecutive day, alongside an intensified security lockdown on all gates of Jerusalem’s Old City.
Under the pretext of a “state of emergency” declared last Friday, Israel has barred worshippers—including local residents—from entering any part of the Al-Aqsa compound or the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Most shops in the Old City have been forced to close, leaving only essential goods stores operational.
Israeli forces have also launched nighttime raids across multiple Jerusalem neighborhoods under arbitrary emergency measures that further paralyze daily life.
Social media has circulated videos and photos showing Al-Aqsa Mosque completely empty, aside from a handful of employees, and marketplaces abandoned after residents were compelled to shut down their businesses.
New Phase of Al-Aqsa Control
According to Jerusalem-based researcher Ziad Abhis, Israel’s closure of Al-Aqsa marks a new stage of direct control unseen even during past wars or uprisings. Only a limited number of staff and guards are permitted inside—never exceeding 60 individuals at a time.
Abhis noted that this “total exclusion” represents the end of the phase of isolation and the beginning of what he calls a “foundational stage”—possibly a prelude to permanent Judaization efforts, including proposals to build a synagogue on Al-Aqsa’s eastern plaza and alter its identity.
He warned that continued silence over this closure will embolden future plans for irreversible changes to the site.
Wider Siege on Jerusalem and the West Bank
The full lockdown on Jerusalem and the West Bank has been in place since Israel launched its major military assault on Iran last Friday. The cities of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams Camp in the northern West Bank have faced ongoing military operations since January 21.
In tandem, Israeli checkpoints have multiplied, with over 85 security points now choking movement between Jerusalem and the West Bank, especially at the Jaba checkpoint, which has been upgraded with gates, surveillance rooms, and reinforced outposts—causing severe traffic jams and suffering for students, patients, and workers.
Violent Raids and Religious Provocations
Neighborhoods such as Silwan, Issawiya, At-Tur, and Shu’fat Refugee Camp have seen violent incursions, with homes raided, residents beaten or arrested, and intensive use of tear gas and stun grenades. Children and young men have been shot, including a 12-year-old and a 22-year-old in At-Tur.
On Tuesday, settlers performed religious rituals at Wilson’s Arch near Al-Aqsa, and Israeli forces blew shofars (Jewish horns) near the Al-Buraq Wall. Settlers also offered “holy stones” for sale at $54 each, marking the 58th year of Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem.
Lack of Civilian Shelters
Despite repeated air raid sirens in Jerusalem, most Palestinian homes lack reinforced shelters. Israel has claimed it will open schools and public institutions for refuge, but engineers and locals warn these facilities are unsafe or structurally unsound, making such measures largely symbolic.
Systematic Control Over Al-Aqsa: A Timeline
Ziad Abhis highlighted how Israel’s control over access to Al-Aqsa has evolved since 2002, beginning with taking control over tourist entry from Jordan’s Islamic Waqf. In 2008, designated settler intrusion hours were enforced. In 2015, Israel closed the mosque completely for Jewish New Year, sparking the Knife Intifada.
In 2017, the mosque was closed again following a deadly shooting at Bab Hutta. And in 2020, Israel imposed a long-term closure under the guise of COVID-19, despite Al-Aqsa being an open-air compound while Jewish worshippers continued gathering at the Buraq Wall.
Abhis concluded:“For Israel, controlling Al-Aqsa’s gates means declaring sovereignty. It’s about reshaping sacred space by political will, as though Israel is the new ‘modern god’ drawing the boundaries of the divine.”
