Israel First Ramadan Friday prayer in Jerusalem without incident
Contrary to fears, the first Friday prayer in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan passed off without incident in Jerusalem.
07.03.2025, 15:30
SDA
According to estimates by the Muslim Wakf authority, around 90,000 worshippers took part in the prayer on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City. According to Israel's police, a large number of officers are deployed in Jerusalem during Ramadan.
The Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) in the city with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. However, it is also sacred to Jews because two Jewish temples used to stand there.
As in previous years, Israel's security authorities have imposed restrictions on worshippers from the West Bank.
According to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, only men aged 55 and over, women aged 50 and over and children aged 12 and under will be granted access to the Temple Mount during the month of fasting with a valid travel permit and after a security check.
There are no restrictions for Arab Israelis.
Security measures significantly increased before first Friday prayer
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, citing eyewitnesses, that dozens of elderly worshippers had been turned away at checkpoints. The reason given was a lack of travel permits.
Israel had significantly stepped up security measures before the first Friday prayers out of concern about violence. According to the police, around 3,000 security forces were deployed. The Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas had previously called for confrontations in the city.
In the past, there has already been an increase in violence in Jerusalem during Ramadan.
