Al-Aqsa Mosque reopens to worshippers after 40-day Israeli closure

Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem was reopened to Muslim worshippers Thursday following a 40-day closure imposed by Israel amid joint US-Israeli military actions against Iran. According to an Anadolu correspondent on the ground, the mosque, located in the Old City, was reopened at dawn, allowing hundreds of Palestinian Muslims to enter the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound.

Emotional scenes

As the gates were opened with the morning call to prayer, large numbers of worshippers flocked to the site, with many seen breaking into tears and performing prostrations of gratitude in the mosque's courtyards. Hundreds of Muslims lined up for the dawn prayer, marking the first congregational worship at the site since its closure.

Ben-Gvir's storming

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the compound on April 6 while it remained closed. The far-right minister, who has a history of provocative visits to the holy site, was a key figure behind the death penalty law for Palestinian prisoners.

Closure details

Israel had completely shut access to Al-Aqsa Mosque on Feb. 28, coinciding with its attacks on Iran, allowing only mosque staff and officials from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf to pray on site. Authorities also prevented Eid al-Fitr prayers from being held at Al-Aqsa this year, marking the first such restriction since Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was also closed during the same period.