Some 8,500 West Bank Palestinians cross checkpoints into Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Muslim worshippers offer prayer on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, on the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City, on February 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Muslim worshippers offer prayer on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, on the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City, on February 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Some 8,500 West Bank Palestinians crossed Israeli checkpoints into Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount today, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel said that it would cap the number of Palestinian worshipers from the West Bank attending the weekly Friday prayers at 10,000.

Like last year, 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. The restrictions only apply to the West Bank Palestinians.

In addition, tens of thousands of Muslim Israeli worshipers also attended prayers at Al‑Aqsa.

Police say that the prayers ended in an orderly manner with no major incidents.

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