Israeli forces continued to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem old city for the third consecutive day on Monday.
Local sources said that Israeli authorities prevented worshippers from entering the mosque, citing a “state of emergency.” This comes amid a heavy deployment of forces around the mosque’s perimeter and the gates of the Old City, effectively barring residents from reaching the courtyards.
Israeli forces originally shuttered Al-Aqsa on Saturday morning, forcing worshippers to leave and preventing the performance of Isha and Tarawih prayers.
The closure of the mosque coincides with the Israeli army’s announcement of a general lockdown on the West Bank, occurring only hours after a large-scale attack launched by Israel and the United States against Iran.
Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem old city is the third holiest site in Islam, during the holy month of Ramadan, the mosque serves as a massive gathering point for hundreds of thousands of people, serving as a center for social, educational, and communal life.
