Israel to permit 10,000 West Bank Palestinians to attend Friday prayers at Al‑Aqsa Mosque

Israel will grant permits to 10,000 West Bank Palestinians to enter Jerusalem for Friday prayers at the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announces.

Mirroring last year’s criteria, only males aged 55 and up, women 50 and up, and children 12 and below when accompanied by a first-degree relative will be permitted to attend prayers at Al‑Aqsa — Islam’s third-holiest site, located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

COGAT says that following a security assessment, the political leadership “accepted the recommendation of the defense establishment regarding the framework for the entry of Palestinian worshipers to the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the month of Ramadan.”

“This is intended to allow and facilitate freedom of worship and religion for the public, subject to maintaining security stability,” the Defense Ministry body says.

COGAT says that “all permits are conditional upon prior security approval by the relevant security authorities,” and in addition, “residents traveling to prayers at the Temple Mount will be required to undergo digital documentation at the crossings upon their return to the areas of Judea and Samaria [West Bank] at the conclusion of the prayer day.”