The Israeli regime has been tightening the grip on occupied West Bank and Al-Quds, with occupation forces stepping up raids and arrests on Friday, as well as imposing oppressive restrictions on prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque on the holy month of Ramadan.
Palestinian media reported heavy restrictions on prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Al-Quds.
Al-Manar correspondent in Al-Quds reported that the oppressive Israeli measures were hindering the access of prayers in the holy compound.
However, thousands of worshipers performed prayers on the first Friday of Ramadan holy month, despite the restrictions.Palestinian Muslim worshipers wait at the Israeli military checkpoint of Qalandia on their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque for prayers on the first Friday of Ramadan.
Israeli occupation authorities announced that only men above 55 and women above 50 from the West Bank would be allowed… pic.twitter.com/zQTYKQevTM
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) March 7, 2025
The Islamic Waqf (Endowment) Ministry in Al-Quds said that about 90,000 worshippers performed the first Friday prayer of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
‘Israel’ Refuses to Hand over Ibrahimi Mosque Meanwhile on Friday, the Palestinian Waqf Ministry said that Israeli occupation authorities refused to hand over sections of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Al-Khalil’s (Hebron) old city, as is customary on Fridays during Ramadan, calling the move a “dangerous and unprecedented” step.
For his part, Hamas official Haroun Nasser Al-Din called on Palestinians in the occupied territory to “mobilize and rally” to protect the Ibrahimi Mosque.Israeli forces barred Palestinian journalists from the courtyards of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
Earlier, the Palestinian Waqf Ministry said the occupation refused to hand over the mosque — a Ramadan Friday custom — to allow Palestinians full access.
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 7, 2025
The Israeli occupation’s “continuous and escalating steps constitute a blatant attack on the status of the Ibrahimi Mosque, and a blatant and dangerous violation within the series of ongoing attacks on Islamic sanctities”, Nasser Al-Din added.
West Bank Raids, Demolitions On the other hand, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) went ahead with raids and demolitions in several areas across the West Bank.
Palestinian media reported on Friday that the IOF raided the city of Tubas.
Earlier at dawn, the occupation forces raided Nablus, as they stormed a mosque in the Old City and prevented Fajr prayers.
On its turn, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Israeli soldiers have begun the demolition of 16 buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem in the northern West Bank.⚡️BREAKING:
Israeli forces stormed Al-Nasr Mosque in the Old City of Nablus in the West Bank, burning Qur’an and eventually setting the mosque on fire.
Civil defense crews were deployed to the scene following the incident.
— Suppressed News.
(@SuppressedNws) March 7, 2025
The move comes after dozens of homes were recently demolished in Tulkarem and Jenin.
In a statement, UNRWA said these large-scale demolitions are “an alarming new pattern”, have “an unprecedented impact on Palestine refugees” and “seek to permanently change the characteristics of the camps in the northern West Bank”.
Yesterday, the Israeli Security Forces began the demolition of over 16 buildings in Nur Shams Camp in Tulkarm, northern #WestBank.
These large-scale demolitions are an alarming new pattern.
People now face the prospect of having nowhere to return to.
Full statement… pic.twitter.com/tFmnIpoBjm
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) March 7, 2025