Palestinians face mounting bans from Al-Aqsa as Israel tightens control
More than 1,000 exclusion orders issued in 2026 alone, according to Palestinian rights group
Palestinian worshippers face growing restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, with religious figures and employees of the Islamic trust that manages the site among those barred, according to Palestinian officials and a human rights monitoring group. Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem, has had his exclusion from the mosque extended until April 2027, and more than 1,000 exclusion orders have been issued since the start of 2026, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported.