Jerusalem: For the fifth consecutive day, Israeli forces continue to enforce a complete closure on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, restricting access to the Old City exclusively to its residents. The closure has significantly impacted the daily lives of Jerusalemites and heightened tensions in the area.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, sporadic attacks by Israeli forces have resulted in five injuries from live ammunition in the towns of At-Tur, Bir Nabala, and Ar-Ram. The occupation has allowed colonists to perform religious rituals near Al-Aqsa Mosque, amidst intensified raids on Jerusalem's towns and suburbs, bolstered by a military presence at numerous checkpoints, gates, and along the Apartheid Wall.
Under the guise of a "state of emergency" declared last Friday, Israeli authorities have barred worshippers, including Old City residents, from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Most businesses in the Old City remain closed, with only essential stores operating.
In a recent incident, Israeli rabbis and soldiers blew the shofar beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque at the northeastern corner of the Western Wall plaza, claiming it as a gesture of support for the occupation soldiers. Additionally, colonists conducted prayers inside the Wilson Arch Synagogue while promoting the sale of stones from the Wall's floor.
In At-Tur's Hardoub neighborhood, an Israeli sniper shot 12-year-old Iyas in the hand and 22-year-old Uday in the back as they stood outside their home. A third person was also injured. The raids continued into the night, with Israeli forces firing flares during a raid.
Further raids occurred in the Ein al-Louza neighborhood of Silwan, resulting in the arrest of a young man. Military checkpoints were also established near Wadi al-Rababa. Israeli forces raided Shuafat, Issawiya, and closed the entrance to al-Ram, after storming the Coptic Quarter. Raids extended to Hizma and al-Eizariya towns, with two young men injured by live ammunition in Bir Nabala and al-Ram.
Amid escalating security tensions, most Jerusalemites lack access to safe rooms or bomb shelters, leaving them vulnerable to shelling. The Israeli authorities' suggestion of using schools and public institutions as shelters is criticized as propaganda, given their inadequate capacity and safety conditions.
Jerusalem is surrounded by 84 checkpoints, including permanent military posts, earth mounds, and gates along the separation wall, which impede the movement of citizens and separate Jerusalem from the West Bank. These checkpoints are frequently used to harass citizens through inspections, detentions, and passage denials.
