Despite Israeli restrictions, 180,000 Muslim worshippers observe Laylat al-Qadr at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Despite heavy Israeli restrictions, around 180,000 Muslim worshippers gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to perform Tarawih prayers and prepare for the observance of Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night in Islam.

The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem confirmed the turnout, stating:
“Approximately 180,000 worshippers performed the Isha and Tarawih prayers on the 26th night of the blessed month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque, in preparation for the observance of Laylat al-Qadr.”

However, access to the mosque was severely restricted. The Jerusalem Governorate condemned the city’s militarization, stating that Israeli forces turned Jerusalem into a military zone, tightening security at all entry points. The Wadi Hilweh Information Center, a local human rights group, reported that many worshippers barred from entering Al-Aqsa prayed just outside its gates.

Eyewitnesses described how hundreds of buses arrived from Arab towns and villages within Israel, part of a broader initiative to ensure that Laylat al-Qadr is observed at the sacred site. Yet, many Palestinian worshippers from the West Bank were denied access, with Israeli forces preventing men under 55 and women under 50 from entering Jerusalem.

According to WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, thousands of Palestinians attempting to reach Jerusalem via the Qalandiya and ‘300’ checkpoints in Bethlehem were turned away by reinforced Israeli forces.

This year’s Laylat al-Qadr, a night traditionally spent in deep prayer from Isha until Fajr, unfolds amid escalating tensions in the West Bank.

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, Israeli military operations and settler attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 938 Palestinians and injuries to nearly 7,000 others, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.