Palestinians Hold First Ramadan Tarawih at Al-Aqsa Under Tight Security
The mosque’s indoor prayer areas and expansive courtyards were filled with congregants, while Sheikh Yusuf Abu Sneineh delivered the sermon and led the nighttime prayers, according to accounts from witnesses at the scene.
Videos circulated on social media depicted Israeli police officers positioned within the compound and walking among attendees as the prayers were underway.
Earlier that day, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, declared the official start of the holy month. “The crescent of Ramadan has been sighted in accordance with Islamic legal procedures,” he said, confirming that Feb. 18, 2026 corresponds to the first day of Ramadan 1447 in the Islamic calendar.
The gathering took place amid rising tensions in occupied East Jerusalem, particularly in the vicinity of the Old City and the Al-Aqsa compound. According to reports, Israeli authorities have intensified security measures in the area, including detentions and temporary restrictions targeting religious leaders and activists.
Human rights observers reported that limitations imposed across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, increased in the lead-up to Ramadan, affecting Palestinians’ ability to access religious sites.
Data cited by local officials in Jerusalem indicate that since the start of 2026, more than 250 orders have been issued preventing Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa compound.
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