Israel reinstates full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli forces on Sunday morning reinstated the full closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, barring worshippers from entry except for mosque guards and Islamic Waqf staff.

The closure followed an overnight raid by Israeli police, during which they stormed prayer halls, vandalised sacred spaces, and removed worshippers by force. They also arrested four mosque guards while other were interrogated on-site.

The Islamic Waqf condemned the violations, warning that repeated Israeli attempts to assert security control over the mosque aim to alter the religious and political status quo.

The incident comes after nine days of restricted access to the mosque amid the Israeli war on Iran. 

Read more: Amid Iran war, Israel seals off Al-Aqsa Mosque in unprecedented move