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Israeli authorities closed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) in March 2026, forcing Muslim worshippers to pray in surrounding streets during what appears to be an escalating US-Israel conflict with Iran. The closure occurred during the final ten days of Ramadan, when tens of thousands traditionally gather at Islam’s third-holiest site for nightly prayers and spiritual retreat.

Al-Aqsa sits in Jerusalem’s Old City on what Jews call the Temple Mount and Muslims call Haram al-Sharif. Israel has controlled the site since 1967 but historically allowed Muslim worship under Jordanian religious administration. Eight Muslim countries, including the UAE, condemned the closure. The Al-Quds International Foundation called it “premeditated aggression and an act of war,” highlighting how the site remains a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader regional tensions.

Sources:

• Worshippers pray outside Al-Aqsa amid closure on al-Quds Day | US-Israel war on Iran | Al Jazeera
• Palestinians Urged to Pray at Al-Aqsa Gates Amid Ongoing Closure - PLF Pakistan
• Muslim worshippers pray outside the Old city of Jerusalem, as access to Al-Aqsa compound, remains restricted by Israel, in Jerusalem | Reuters Connect
• Quds Int’l: Closing Aqsa Premeditated Aggression, Act of War Cannot Be Ignored

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