Jerusalem's Old City Locked Down Amid Temple Mount Incursions During Sukkot

Jerusalem's Old City was effectively sealed off, transforming the area into a "military barracks" and paralyzing daily life for Palestinian residents during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The lockdown coincided with widespread incursions by Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to Jerusalem activist Fakhri Abu Diab. He stated that dozens, possibly hundreds, of settlers entered the mosque compound while Palestinians faced tightened restrictions on entering the Old City.

Abu Diab explained that the closures extended beyond the immediate vicinity of Al-Aqsa, impacting businesses and residents within the Old City. Shop owners and shoppers were prevented from reaching their workplaces and daily necessities. This disruption, he noted, imposed additional economic burdens and prevented Palestinians from engaging in normal life. The restrictions also affected students, with some facing difficulties reaching schools located just hundreds of meters from their homes.

These movement restrictions were not confined to the Old City, extending to areas like Ras al-Amud and Jabal Mukaber on Jerusalem's outskirts. Abu Diab anticipated that the barriers and closures might persist until the end of Sukkot, with potential easing in the evenings, though some restrictions would likely remain. He characterized these measures as part of a cumulative escalation observed in recent years, with increasingly widespread and stringent actions around the Old City and Al-Aqsa.

Abu Diab also highlighted the increasing trend of Jewish prayers and rituals being performed audibly within the Al-Aqsa compound, along with the introduction of Sukkot-related symbols. He suggested a growing political exploitation of religious occasions, particularly with upcoming Israeli elections, which he believes directly impacts the lives of Jerusalemites. Recent reports indicate that settler incursions into Al-Aqsa during Jewish holidays have been accompanied by intensified measures in the Old City and restrictions on Palestinian worshippers, while Israeli groups continued to conduct rituals and prayers in the mosque courtyards.