JERUSALEM: The prime minister’s office announced on Tuesday that Israel will permit the same number of worshipers to enter Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa mosque during the first week of Ramadan as it has in the past.
The statement used the Jewish name for the location to say, “Worshippers will be allowed to enter the Temple Mount, in similar numbers as those in previous years,” during the first week of Ramadan.
It further stated, “Every week, there will be an evaluation of the security and safety situation, and a decision will be made accordingly.”
Tens of thousands of worshipers fill the Al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan every year.
This year’s Ramadan coincides with Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip following the October 7 Hamas raid on Israel.
Due to begin on March 10 or 11, Israel has been evaluating how to handle worship in Jerusalem during Ramadan.
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right minister of national security, recently declared that Palestinians living in the West Bank “should not be allowed” admission into Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers.
He declared, “We cannot take chances,” and went on, “We cannot allow Hamas celebrations on the Temple Mount and hold women and children captive in Gaza.” Ben Gvir is the leader of a hard-right group that supports Jewish ownership of the site.
A few days later, the US urged Israel to permit Muslim prayer at Al Aqsa.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, “It’s not just a matter of granting people the religious freedom that they deserve… it’s also a matter that directly is important to Israel’s security.”
“Israel’s security interest does not lie in inflaming tensions in the West Bank or throughout the region.” For the beginning of Ramadan, Hamas has called for a widespread demonstration on Al Aqsa.
