The first Friday of Ramadan on February 20, 2026, unfolded under some of the tightest access restrictions in recent years at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, as Israeli authorities sharply limited the number of Palestinian worshippers permitted to enter from the occupied West Bank.
The measures were announced by the Israeli government through the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) as part of a broader security framework introduced amid heightened tensions across the West Bank.
Strict Quotas and Age Restrictions
Under the new regulations, attendance from the West Bank was capped at 10,000 worshippers — a fraction of historic turnout levels for the first Friday of Ramadan, which in years prior to 2023 often exceeded 250,000 attendees.
Eligibility criteria were narrowly defined as follows:
- Men aged 55 and older daily permit required
- Women aged 50 and older –daily permit required
- Children aged 12 and under permitted only if accompanied by a first-degree relative, with a permit
Israeli military sources reported that by mid-morning, approximately 2,000 worshippers had successfully crossed through the Qalandiya checkpoint north of Jerusalem. Many others were reportedly turned back after the quota was reached or due to security vetting procedures.
The 10,000-person cap represents less than 4 percent of the attendance typically seen before the escalation of violence in October 2023.
Rising West Bank Tensions
The restrictions come against a backdrop of escalating violence in the West Bank.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nine Palestinians including two children were killed by Israeli forces between January 1 and February 16, 2026. Since October 2023, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank.
Settler-related violence has also intensified. During the first two weeks of February alone, 59 Palestinians were injured in attacks attributed to Israeli settlers, according to UN reporting.
In a separate but significant development, the Israeli cabinet approved a 244 million NIS (approximately $79 million) budget on February 15 to begin formal land registration processes in Area C, which constitutes roughly 60 percent of the West Bank. The initiative marks the first large-scale land registration effort in the territory since 1967 and will designate portions of land as “state property.”
International observers warn that such measures may have far-reaching political consequences. United Nations officials have cautioned that expanded land registration and settlement-related policies risk further undermining prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.
Gaza Ceasefire Under Strain
While a fragile ceasefire has been in effect in Gaza since October 2025, humanitarian conditions remain dire.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that 72,069 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023. Despite the ceasefire, approximately 1,591 Palestinians have reportedly died between October 2025 and February 2026 due to sporadic airstrikes, shelling, and other security incidents.
Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced billions of dollars in aid for Gaza under a newly unveiled “Board of Peace” initiative aimed at reconstruction and humanitarian relief. However, UN officials have emphasized that developments in the West Bank particularly land-related measures in Area C may complicate broader diplomatic efforts.
As Ramadan continues, access to Jerusalem’s holy sites remains a focal point of political and religious tension, reflecting the wider instability shaping Israeli-Palestinian relations in early 2026.
